Paulo Costa demands UFC milestone jacket after claiming 200 drug tests

Paulo Costa has publicly demanded a milestone jacket from the UFC, claiming he has undergone approximately 200 drug tests throughout his career — four times the 50-test threshold that earned Arman Tsarukyan official recognition from the promotion.

The Brazilian middleweight reacted after a video circulated of Tsarukyan receiving the UFC’s clean-record jacket ahead of his scheduled bout with Mauricio Ruffy on 19 September. Costa took to X to make his feelings clear.

“I keep asking where is my fck 200 tests Ugly jacket son of a btchessssss,” Costa posted.

Costa is widely regarded as one of the UFC’s most frequently tested athletes. Although “Borrachinha” has never returned a positive test for banned substances, he did accept a six-month suspension from USADA in 2019 after using an IV infusion to aid recovery from a weight cut — a method prohibited under anti-doping rules regardless of the substance involved. He has also previously spoken about testing officials arriving at his home in the early hours of the morning during difficult weight cuts.

The sheer volume of tests Costa has faced even inspired a business venture: his “Secret Juice” brand, which grew directly out of his public profile as one of the sport’s most scrutinised fighters.

Beyond the jacket dispute, Costa finds himself at a crossroads with the promotion. He has one fight remaining on his UFC contract and recently lobbied for an interim light heavyweight title bout, only to claim the organisation showed no interest and has been repeatedly delaying his return to the Octagon.