The UFC 298 co-main event delivered the hype that was promised. When two elite strikers, such as Paulo Costa and former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, squared up in the octagon, it was a sure shot to be a slugfest. Both middleweights went on to put up a clinic for the fans and spectators who were off their seats the entire time during the bout.
Although Costa had his moments, Whittaker was able to dominate the Brazilian most of the time. The UFC veteran did face issues dealing with Paulo’s leg kicks, especially one in the last seconds of round 1. It not only landed by wobbling the former champion, but many started to believe the Brazilian could finish the fight. Luckily, the Reaper was saved by the bell and had time to regain momentum.
PAULO COSTA ROCKS ROBERT WHITTAKER 😱 #UFC298 pic.twitter.com/f2vezoJUn0
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) February 18, 2024
The fans were stunned by the surprise spinning leg kick by the Brazilian and the way it landed. Robert showed his strong chin and heart, fighting even while hardly conscious. The rest of the two rounds were controlled by the former champion, who dealt more volume and damage against Costa. Whittaker went on to win the bout via unanimous decision after their highly thrilling rounds.
UFC Fans react to Robert Whittaker vs Paulo Costa at UFC 298
The MMA community was quick to react to the spectacle and show their appreciation for both fighters. Robert Whittaker, who was going in as an underdog and facing criticism for being washed up, stepped to the occasion to prove everyone wrong. Among the social media comments, one fan wrote, “The middleweight division is something else again. Very Strong”.
This was also true for the level of competition and quality of fights the weight class has delivered in recent times. From a brutal showdown at UFC 297, Strickland vs. Du Plessis, to the slugfest in the UFC 298 co-main, the fans could not ask for more. Another user wrote, “Hats off to both men!” showing appreciation for the middleweights who left it all inside the 3 rounds.
One fan wrote, “Robert Whittaker fights NEVER disappoint!” showing love to the former champion, who could as well be in the title picture while other top 3 middleweights Strickland and Adesanya are still debatable. Most fans were happy with the judges scoring, which often led to controversies, while still believing there could be an improvement.
The bout was scored 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27 for the winner to be Whittaker. Some fans argued for Costa to have won the first round, but many would say it was only the last ten seconds with the spinning kick that made it questionable. One user wrote, “Proper fighter won, Right rounds scored, good job by the judges” on all three judges going for the technical battle and not just damage and key moments.
