Johny Hendricks vs Paulo Costa — Fight recap

Paulo Costa stopped Johny Hendricks via KO/TKO in round two at 1:23 on November 4, 2017, with referee John McCarthy overseeing the bout. Costa's striking volume and accuracy proved decisive, landing 49 of 90 significant strikes (54%) compared to Hendricks' 27 of 54 (50%).

Costa's body work was particularly effective, connecting on 23 of 26 body strikes, while Hendricks managed only 2 of 2 in that zone. Hendricks' wrestling game failed to materialize, going 0 for 4 on takedown attempts and generating zero control time.

Costa scored one knockdown en route to the finish, demonstrating the power differential in a bout where both fighters remained primarily on the feet. The loss marked a significant setback for Hendricks in the middleweight division, while Costa's performance solidified his status as a rising contender in the 185-pound ranks.