The UFC 298 co-main event featured a middleweight bout with significant implications in the division’s rankings.  Former champion Robert Whittaker took on knockout artist Paulo Costa in the co-featured fight at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California on Saturday.  

Whittaker was defeated by current champion Dricus Du Plessis in his last fight at UFC 290 last July.  Despite the loss, Whittaker remained ranked third in the rankings.  

Costa last fought in August 2022 defeating former titleholder Luke Rockhold.  He and Whittaker was tied to a fight at UFC 284 in February 2023, but Costa disputed the fight announcement saying he never signed a bout agreement.  A year later, the fight finally happened.  

Costa rushed across the cage.  He landed a jab.  Whittaker responded with a leg kick.  Costa went high with a kick but Whittaker blocked it.  Costa lands his jab.  Whittaker bounced on the outside.  Whittaker connected with back-to-back jabs.  Whittaker landed a clean counter right hand.  He landed a left hand and Costa responded with a right hand.  

Midway through the round, Whittaker landed another right hand followed by a leg kick.  Whittaker pressured Costa and landed another leg kick.  Costa delivered an inside leg kick.  Whittaker stepped in with a jab.  Costa responded with a jab.  Whittaker drove forward and landed a right hand.  Costa landed his jab but Whittaker appeared to be the faster fighter.  Costa landed a spinning back kick that put Whittaker on wobbly legs with seconds remaining.  Whittaker survived the round but was badly hurt.  MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Costa.

Whittaker looked to have recovered.  He landed a leg kick.  Costa delivered a leg kick of his own.  Costa went high with a kick but it was blocked.  Costa connected with back-to-back jabs.  Whittaker is bleeding out of his nose.  Costa accidentally poked Whittaker in the eye.  Whittaker didn’t need time to recover and the fight was restarted.  

Whittaker connected with a leg kick followed by a hard left hand.  Costa threw a head kick that was blocked.  Whittaker stepped in with a jab followed by a hard leg kick.  Whittaker delivered a combination.  Costa looked to have slowed.  Whittaker landed a right hand.  Costa delivered a solid leg kick.  With a minute remaining in the round, Whittaker landed another leg kick.  Whittaker landed a hard right hand.  Costa’s chin held up.  MMAWeekly scored the second round 10-9 for Whittaker.    

Costa landed a right hand to start the third frame.  Whittaker responded with a leg kick.  Whittaker partially landed a. left hand.  Costa connected with a leg kick.  Whittaker delivered a clean right hand.  Costa landed a knee to the body.  Both men appeared to have slowed.  Whittaker landed a massive right hand and Costa shook it off.  Costa motioned to Whittaker to engage.  He landed a leg kick.  

Midway through the final round, Costa delivered a kick to the body.  Whittaker answered with a jab followed by a leg kick.  Costa inched forward and landed his jab.  Costa missed with a spinning heel kick.  Whittaker connected with a right hand.  They exchanged left hands.  Whittaker continued to land leg kicks.  He landed his jab.  Whittaker briefly looked for a takedown just before the end of the round.  MMAWeekly scored the third round 10-9 for Whittaker.  

The judges scored the fight for Whittaker by unanimous decision.  The scorecards read 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27.

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