Costa and Sonnen hail UFC interpreter Buskei as a 'secret weapon' for Brazilian fighters

Paulo Costa has publicly credited UFC interpreter Fabiano Buskei with elevating how Brazilian fighters come across in interviews, saying Buskei’s precise word choices compensate for what Costa bluntly described as the “low-IQ” phrasing fighters sometimes use in their native tongue.

Buskei works as the primary interpreter for Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking fighters inside the UFC, a role that places him at the centre of some of the promotion’s most high-profile post-fight press conferences and media scrums. The praise began when UFC Hall of Famer Chael Sonnen posted on X calling Buskei a quiet but invaluable presence.

“He downplays it well but that dude is a secret weapon,” Sonnen wrote. “Very smart. Always has a plan.”

Costa, who competes under the nickname “Borrachinha” and is fluent in both Portuguese and English, said that bilingual understanding gives him a unique window into just how skilled Buskei’s work actually is.

“He really makes the fighter sound much better by choosing more appropriate words than the low-IQ fighter originally used,” Costa wrote on X on 14 October 2026. “It’s great to see when you understand both languages. You have even more respect to his job.”

The comments shine a light on a largely unsung role within combat sports. Interpreters at major MMA events are tasked not just with translating words but with preserving tone, intent, and personality — often in real time and under the pressure of a live broadcast environment. Costa’s observation suggests Buskei goes a step further, actively shaping how a fighter’s message lands with an English-speaking audience.

While Costa’s “low-IQ” framing is characteristically blunt, his underlying point is a genuine compliment: that Buskei’s linguistic instincts add a layer of polish that fighters themselves may not always be able to provide, and that those who speak both languages are best placed to appreciate the craft involved.