Paulo Costa attempts to provoke Azamat Murzakanov ahead of UFC 327 clash

Paulo Costa's attempts to get inside Azamat Murzakanov's head during pre-fight interactions ahead of UFC 327 fell flat, with the Russian contender responding to the Brazilian's provocations with nothing more than a smile. The two fighters are set to collide on April 11.

Costa, known as "The Eraser," enters the bout carrying a 16-4-0 record and is ranked 13th in the middleweight division at 35 years old. The Brazilian out of Team Borracha is one of the sport's most aggressive strikers, landing an impressive 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. His game is almost exclusively built around his fists, with just 0.32 takedowns per 15 minutes and no submission attempts to speak of. Notably, Costa competes here at light heavyweight, stepping up from his home division.

Murzakanov, who fights out of K Dojo Warrior Tribe, comes in ranked 12th in the light heavyweight division with a 16-1-0 record. The 37-year-old southpaw from Russia, nicknamed "The Professional," stands five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach and has built a reputation for composed, controlled performances. He lands 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy and mixes in 0.55 takedowns per 15 minutes, adding a wrestling dimension that Costa largely lacks.

Why it matters

• A win for Murzakanov at 12th in the light heavyweight rankings could push him firmly into title contention territory
• Costa moving up to light heavyweight adds intrigue to his divisional future regardless of outcome
• The style matchup pits Costa's relentless high-volume striking against Murzakanov's measured southpaw approach and takedown threat
• Costa's psychological tactics ahead of the fight appeared to have zero effect on the composed Russian