Paulo Costa: The fact that Yoel Romero has trouble making weight ‘cheers me up’

Number one-ranked middleweight contender Yoel Romero has so far missed the 185-pound mark two straight times in his last two fights. This has urged his management team to open up the possibility for “The Soldier of God” to make a move up to light heavyweight.

Romero, however, is expected to carry on with his middleweight run, as the UFC is looking to book him against Paulo Henrique Costa at UFC 230 this November. From his end, Costa is actually hoping for Romero to miss weight for a third consecutive time.

“The fact that he has trouble make weight cheers me up,” Costa told MMA Fighting. “It’s 20 percent more going to my pocket. Everything I want is him to miss weight. Get there heavy and give me my 20 or 30 percent. Thirty is even better. That’s all I want.”

“Yoel Romero, eat a lot and get there heavy, please. I want your 30 percent.”

Despite the announcement, Romero has not yet signed the fight contract, as he recovers from the orbital bone surgery he had in June. But for Costa, their fight is the only sensible one to make, which gives him some assurance that Romero will eventually fulfill his end of the deal.

“I’ve signed the contract, it’s on for me. He has his contract already, he’s just needs to get up the courage and sign it,” Costa said. “But he will sign it. He doesn’t have anyone else to fight.”

UFC 230 will serve as the company’s annual event at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It is scheduled to take place on November 3^rd.