Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker is expected to make his long-awaited return to the Octagon at UFC 298 in March and is the favorite to defeat former title challenger Paulo Costa in a highly anticipated bout.
Whittaker, the former middleweight titleholder and current No. 3 contender, has been inactive since his appearance on the main card of UFC 290 during International Fight Week last July, where he suffered a shocking 2nd round TKO loss to Doric du Plessis.
Costa, from Belo Horizonte, is ranked No. 6 and has not fought since 2022 when he defeated Luke Rockhold by unanimous decision, ending a two-fight losing streak.
Despite Costa’s recent victory, he is the underdog in the upcoming fight against Whittaker at UFC 298.
Robert Whittaker favored to beat Paulo Costa at UFC 298
Whittaker is the -185 favorite if you are planning to bet on him, while Costa is the underdog with +154 odds for his scheduled return to the Octagon.
Whittaker’s most recent win came in a unanimous decision over Marvin Vettori during a trip to France, whereas Costa has not had a win since the 2022 UFC Fight Night Paris premiere card.
UFC 298 will also feature a headline title fight between Alexander Volkanovskiy and Ilya Topria, as well as a potential bantamweight title eliminator between Henry Cejudo and Merab Dvalishvili.
The event is set to take place in Anaheim, California, and is anticipated by fans and fighters alike as they look forward to earning title matches and making their mark in the UFC.
Who will emerge victorious in the grudge match at UFC 298: Robert Whittaker or Paulo Costa?
