JAKARTA - Brazilian UFC fighter Paulo Costa has sacked his manager, Wallid Ismail. It didn't take long for him to officially appoint his sexy girlfriend Tamara Alves as the new manager.
Costa announced Wallid's dismissal through his personal YouTube channel. He was kicked out for having different views with the fighter.
Costa decided to dump his old manager just two weeks before making a comeback fight. The 31-year-old fighter is scheduled to duel with former champion Luke Rockhold at UFC 278 later.
"I have nothing bad to say about Wallid. He is an honest and very professional person, I only have praise for him," Costa said as quoted by The Sun.
"We just had different views on my career and, because of that, we decided not to work together anymore," he added.
Taking over as manager automatically means Alves will play a role in negotiating Costa's fight and contract with the mixed martial arts promotion parent.
Costa and Alves met nine years ago at a gym and have been inseparable ever since. The husband of Alves' cousin, who happens to be training at the same game, introduced Costa to his wife's cousin.
"He said, 'Wow, Tata, there's a really handsome guy in the game. I think you'll like him'. The game is hosting a jiu-jitsu championship and he told me to stop by," Alves said.
Alves then stopped by the game to prove what his cousin's husband had said. There he also met Paulo who was competing.
At first they greeted each other, but didn't chat because Paulo was completely focused. However, from Paulo's friends, Alves knows a lot that the man who is currently his girlfriend, is a very good person.
"That day he impressed me. You see in his face and he is very cool, and that you will not find in another person," said Alves.
"That night, there was a party for the game staff and we met there. He asked for my number from my friend and didn't even ask me."
Costa enters UFC 278 clash with Rockhold after back-to-back losses to Israeli middleweight kings Adesanya and Marvin Vettori.
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