Paulo Costa mocked for 'absolutely terrible' ceremonial first pitch and is compared to Conor McGregor after wayward throw for the New York Mets... as he promotes UFC 302 clash with Sean Strickland

UFC fighter Paulo Costa has been compared to Conor McGregor for an 'absolutely terrible' ceremonial pitch for the New York Mets. 

Costa had the opening throw and sent it high and wide - just like Conor McGregor did in 2021 - before the Mets went on to lose 10-3 to the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

The middleweight star was promoting his upcoming showdown with Sean Strickland in UFC 302 in the early hours of Sunday morning BST at the Prudential Centre in Newark, New Jersey. 

And it looks as if Costa, the seventh-ranked middleweight, should stick to fighting after being mocked for his pitch. 

'Paulo Costa’s first pitch was absolutely terrible,' wrote one account on X, formerly Twitter. 

'Paulo Costa with the worst pitch I’ve ever seen,' another said. 

'Paulo Costa might’ve just beat Conor McGregor for worst pitch by a UFC fighter,' one wrote. 

'Paulo Costa may have just thrown the WORST first pitch of all time,' another commented. 

'Who let my man Paulo Costa throw out the #Mets first pitch?!? He’s made the 50 Cent throw look normal,' said one, referencing an equally abominable first pitch from the rapper in 2014. 

But that user quickly got back in Costa's good books, writing: '(Costa is a DAWG in the UFC. My fellow fight fans know what’s up.)' 

Costa himself later responded to his wayward attempt. 'I just missed that, guys. I have no excuse. I'm not good on that,' he said. 

No doubt his focus is more concentrated on his looming clash with Strickland, the second consecutive former 185-pound champion he has faced.

Costa lost by unanimous decision to Robert Whittaker at UFC 298. 

His contest with Strickland co-headlines UFC 302, where Islam Makhachev will defend his lightweight title against Dustin Poirier.