Paulo Costa had more than just physical strength in his corner during the lead-up to UFC 318; his longtime partner Tamara Alves provided him with steadfast support. The public’s perception of the Brazilian fighter, who is well-known for his explosive style and fierce rivalries, has recently changed, largely due to Alves’ incredibly successful online and offline presence. She is actively influencing the story rather than merely supporting it from the sidelines.
Costa was supposed to compete at UFC 317 in recent months, but he had to pull out because of a viral infection. But it’s possible that the wait was especially advantageous, allowing him time to heal and reestablish a connection with his heritage. He boldly and energetically posted on Instagram, saying, “The old Paulo is back! You requested it! Are you prepared? There was instant acclaim for his post, including a heartfelt comment from Alves: “The improved and aggressive version.” That comment wasn’t just a girlfriend’s support; it was a business partner’s well-timed marketing tactic.
Paulo Costa & Tamara Alves Profile
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Paulo Costa |
| Nickname | Borrachinha |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Age | 33 |
| Profession | UFC Fighter (Middleweight Division) |
| Girlfriend | Tamara Alves |
| Alves’ Background | Former Civil Engineer, Now MMA Sports Agent |
| Business Ventures | Co-founder of fitness brand MundoFit |
| Most Recent Public Appearance | UFC 318 (July 2025) |
| Source |
Their relationship goes well beyond romance. Costa and Alves co-founded MundoFit, a Brazilian fitness accessory company that has gained significant popularity recently. This collaboration, which was greatly enhanced by Alves’ knowledge of both engineering and fight promotion, shows how combining professional vision with personal trust can be immensely flexible in fields that prioritize authenticity and branding. Alves’ transition from her background in civil engineering to the challenging field of sports agency is a testament to her flexibility and business acumen.
Alves is more than just a backstage presence at UFC 318; she is walking side by side with Costa and is a part of his team at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. That kind of visibility is still uncommon, particularly in a setting that is so testosterone-driven. However, Alves’ impact has become so organic that her participation feels both welcome and incredibly effective. Like other power couples in sports, such as Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady, she gives Costa strategic credibility and emotional stability, particularly during times of controversy.
Speaking of controversy, Khamzat Chimaev, a rising star in the UFC, is the subject of one of their story’s more noteworthy chapters. Chimaev’s alleged disrespectful direct messages to Alves in the run-up to their postponed fight last year escalated the already simmering tension between him and Costa. Not one to keep his annoyances to himself, Costa made the messages public. The tone of their rivalry was drastically altered by that incident, which added a layer of unresolved personal grievance.
Costa didn’t hold back when speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show. With startling candor, he declared, “This son of a b, I want to fight this guy.” Costa appears more focused on something deeper than rankings, even as the middleweight title bout between Chimaev and Dricus Du Plessis looms large. “I want to fight that motherf–er [Chimaev], win or lose.” It must occur. Emotional motivation frequently raises performance in competitive sports above quantifiable levels. Now, it seems that Costa’s motivation comes from pride, loyalty, and protection—elements that are frequently honed by deep connections.
Curiously, the plot becomes even more complex. Tracy Cortez, a UFC competitor, was embroiled in unanticipated rumors about Costa only a few months ago. Online rumors circulated after Costa shared a picture of herself with Cortez and then an unclear post with an unnamed woman. Speculation—and even an online feud between Cortez and her ex-boyfriend Brian Ortega—began when fans assumed Costa and Cortez were romantically involved.
Costa and Alves made a surprisingly elegant move instead of responding defensively. They made direct contact with Cortez. In a 2023 Sportskeeda MMA interview, Cortez stated, “He and his wife, or fiancée, video-chatted me… “I don’t care,” I said. Take it and run. It’s amusing. What might have been a contentious controversy was transformed into a funny, viral moment. Alves demonstrated once more that she was not only at ease with attention from the public but also knew how to manage it.
Alves demonstrated a very keen awareness of media momentum by using a rumor for amicable publicity. Her decision to react with control and humor instead of anger shows how emotionally intelligent and PR-savvy she is. In contemporary MMA, where competitors are frequently viewed as brands and their personal lives add as much to their worth as their winning streaks, these attributes are surprisingly valuable.
Notably, Alves’ presence hasn’t lessened Costa’s unadulterated passion. Her influence has, if anything, restored equilibrium. In the past, Costa’s public conduct has occasionally tended to be unpredictable. His goals are now clearer, his statements seem more focused, and his tone is more grounded. Even though it has been subtle, both fans and analysts have noticed that change. His online persona has significantly improved over the past year, fusing passion with discipline, humor with resiliency.
By means of strategic alliances, both personal and professional, Costa is establishing longevity in addition to preserving relevance. Such balanced narratives will be more important in the years to come as UFC continues to transform into a sports-entertainment hybrid. Already, fighters like Israel Adesanya and Sean O’Malley have used their stylized identities and personal narratives to secure significant sponsorship deals. With a style that is less ostentatious but much more sustainable, Costa and Alves could easily tap into that same market with their genuine, subtly assertive image.
For the record books, Tamara Alves is more than just a girlfriend. She has become a crucial component of Paulo Costa’s ascent, comeback, and reset. Their common history, which is based on communication, loyalty, and shared ambition, demonstrates the strength of a relationship that permeates every facet of a career. By putting herself right in the middle of strategy, she is changing the idea of what it means to support from the sidelines.
