Paulo Costa stated that he likes fighting against Russian fighters. In his most recent bout, the Brazilian defeated Roman Kopylov. Costa has also been scheduled for fights against Russian fighters Ikram Aliskerov and Khamzat Chimaev in the past, though neither of those matchups materialized. Costa's comments come ahead of his upcoming fight against another Russian opponent, Azamat Murzakanov. The Brazilian appears to relish the challenge that Russian fighters present.
Paulo Costa has revealed that he takes particular enjoyment from competing against Russian fighters, with the Brazilian middleweight set to face Azamat Murzakanov in his next outing.
Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," carries a 16-4 record and currently sits ranked thirteenth in the middleweight division. The 35-year-old from Brazil trains out of Team Borracha and is one of the most aggressive volume strikers in the division, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 58 percent. His most recent win came against fellow middleweight Roman Kopylov, extending his record and keeping him active in the rankings picture.
Kopylov, a southpaw standing six feet tall with a 75-inch reach, holds a 15-5 record and is ranked fourteenth at middleweight. The 34-year-old Russian lands 4.59 significant strikes per minute but fell short against Costa in their recent encounter.
Costa also referenced two previous matchups against Russian opponents that were scheduled but never came to fruition. One of those was against Khamzat Chimaev, the number-one ranked middleweight who competes out of the UAE and holds a 15-1 record. Chimaev is a dominant wrestler averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a 60 percent striking accuracy, making him one of the most well-rounded fighters in the division. That fight never materialized, leaving the matchup unfinished business for both men.
Why it matters
- Costa's stated preference for Russian opponents frames his upcoming fight against Murzakanov as a personally motivated contest
- A strong performance could lift Costa from his current ranking of thirteenth in a competitive middleweight division
- The previously collapsed bouts with Chimaev and Aliskerov show Costa has been circling high-profile Russian matchups for some time
