UFC middleweight Paulo Costa has vowed to retire rival Luke Rockhold in their grudge match at UFC 278 this weekend.

This Saturday night in Salt Lake City, UFC 278 will take place as the promotion aims to hit yet another home run in what has been a pretty successful year for them up to this point. The main event between Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards is the biggest attraction on the card, but it’s worth noting that there are plenty of other intriguing contests for fans to keep an eye on.

Arguably the second biggest will take place in the middleweight division when Paulo Costa hopes for a big return to form against Luke Rockhold, a man who also needs to get back in the win column.

The pair have been going back and forth at one another for a while now and despite this fight being postponed twice, they appear to be as hungry as ever before to rip the other’s head off when they meet in the middle of the Octagon.

The trash talk has been at fever pitch for weeks and months now, so it should come as no surprise that they almost came to blows during last night’s press conference.

ALL THE INFO: UFC 278: Date, Announced Fight Card, Location, Kamaru Usman and more

When given his chance to talk, Costa couldn’t help but rip into his opponent by suggesting he was going to send him into retirement.

“Come on, this guy is too old to say this kind of bulls***. Come on,” Costa said. “You are too old to say this kind of bulls***.

Costa stays focused

“He can say this bulls***. I don’t feed on an older man like he is. It doesn’t matter on the day of the fight. We will be close in the same cage, just me and him and we will see who has more energy, who has more power and more will to win this fight.”

“I’m on my primetime,” he said. “I will f*** this old man up on Saturday. He is visibly uncomfortable because he knows he will face a monster. He knows already. Look at him, He’s uncomfortable. I will retire him on Saturday.”