Paulo Costa says ex-trainer was a ‘snitch’ and tried to blackmail him with IV video

Paulo Costa is set to return to the Octagon at UFC 241 against Yoel Romero. It will be the Brazilian’s first fight since being sidelined for six months due to a USADA suspension.

His suspension came in part due to a leaked video of Costa using IV’s after weigh-ins. There, the Brazilian says he found out the leak came from an ex-trainer.

“He was already identified and removed from the team,” Costa told Ag. Fight (as transcribed by MMA Fighting). “This person tried to send it to several people. It’s a tragicomic situation. He hurt himself a lot because he was cut from the team. He was part of the team and betrayed not only my confidence but every fighter’s (confidence), I believe. I don’t know if a trainer can have the confidence of a fighter or a gym owner now because if he does that to one fighter, he’ll do to another. This guy has to be banned from the sport.”

Not naming the trainer

Meanwhile, Paulo Costa will not name the trainer. But, he thinks he knows why the trainer tried to do it. The Brazilian says he believes his ex-trainer thought Costa was making a lot of money and thought he could get some of it by blackmailing him from the video.

“He tried to use that short moment to hurt me and extort me with that video,” he added. “He said, ‘If you don’t give me this amount of money…’ That completely broke the confidence and I obviously didn’t even try to negotiate because I knew what I was doing.”

Now, Paulo Costa said he trusted the wrong people and let them into his hotel room. But, entering this fight against Yoel Romero, Costa knows he has the right team with him.

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This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 6/18/2019.