Paulo Costa tries to provoke Azamat Murzakanov ahead of UFC 327 bout

Paulo Costa attempted to get under the skin of Azamat Murzakanov during a pre-fight interaction ahead of their light heavyweight matchup at UFC 327, scheduled for April 11. Murzakanov's response was a simple smile, suggesting the Russian fighter was entirely unbothered by Costa's mind games.

Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," enters the bout carrying a 16-4 record. The 35-year-old Brazilian, who trains out of Team Borracha, is primarily known as a middleweight but steps into the light heavyweight division for this contest. He holds a divisional ranking of 13th at 185 pounds. Costa is one of the more prolific strikers in the sport, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate, though he rarely looks for takedowns or submissions.

Murzakanov, known as "The Professional," brings a 16-1 record into the fight and is ranked 12th in the light heavyweight division. The 37-year-old southpaw from Russia trains with K Dojo Warrior Tribe and stands five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach. He lands 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy and mixes in a modest takedown threat at 0.55 per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• Both fighters sit just outside the top ten at light heavyweight, making a strong performance critical for either man's divisional standing
• Costa's elite striking volume will be tested against a composed, experienced operator in Murzakanov
• The style matchup pits an aggressive forward pressure fighter against a southpaw who has shown the ability to stay calm under fire
• Costa's psychological tactics at the pre-fight interaction went unrewarded, potentially giving Murzakanov a mental edge heading into fight night