Michael Costa (fighter)

Michael Costa (born May 18, 1981) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, who has competed in Brazil's long-running mixed martial arts event Storm Samurai, the Japanese based promotions Sengoku (MMA) and Pancrase, and the Art of War Fighting Championship in China. He has also fought in smaller promotions such as; Shooto Brazil, CF-Capital Fight in Brazil, and STFC-South Texas Fighting Championship in the United States. He was scheduled to make his Bellator debut against former Bellator welterweight champion Lyman Good on November 26, 2011 in Atlantic City, New Jersey however he was forced to withdraw due to injury.

Biography
Michael Costa grew up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and began his martial arts training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a teenager. He is a Gracie Humaita black belt under Grand Master Royler Gracie. He later moved to Curitiba, Brazil and began training in Muay Thai kickboxing under Chute Boxe Master Rafael Cordeiro. After training alongside MMA greats Wanderlei Silva, Anderson Silva, Fabricio Werdum, and brothers Shogun Rua and Ninja Rua; Michael became a Chute Boxe black belt under Master Cordeiro.

Career
Michael Costa has competed in Brazil's long-running mixed martial arts event Storm Samurai, the Japanese based Sengoku (MMA) and Pancrase, and the Art of War Fighting Championship in China. In the Storm Samurai series Michael holds the record for the fastest knockout at :08 seconds. He is a member of Wanderlei Silva's the Wand Fight Team and is the head Muay Thai instructor there. In addition to training with the Wand Fight Team, Michael still trains a few times per month with Chute Boxe Master Rafael Cordeiro. Costa is the head coach and trainer to several professional and amateur fighters.

Personal life
Michael Costa enjoys coaching and his stated goal is to help make people better fighters in the ring and better people outside the ring. When he is not training, Michael enjoys spending time with friends and family.