Paulo Costa was seen trying to provoke Azamat Murzakanov during a pre-fight interaction, but Murzakanov only smiled in response. The two fighters are scheduled to compete this coming weekend. The post includes video content showing the attempted provocation. Details about the nature or location of the interaction are limited in the brief post.
Paulo Costa made a pre-fight attempt to get under Azamat Murzakanov's skin during a face-to-face interaction ahead of their scheduled bout this weekend, though Murzakanov responded to the provocation with little more than a smile.
Costa, known as "The Eraser," enters the fight at 16-4-0 and sits ranked 13th in the middleweight division. The 35-year-old Brazilian out of Team Borracha is one of the sport's most aggressive pressers on the feet, landing an impressive 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. Standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, Costa fights out of an orthodox stance and relies almost entirely on his hands, recording virtually no submission attempts in his career.
Murzakanov, nicknamed "The Professional," carries a 16-1-0 record and holds the 12th ranking in the light heavyweight division. The 37-year-old Russian trains out of K Dojo Warrior Tribe and brings a southpaw style to the cage. Standing five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach, he lands 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy and is slightly more active in the grappling department, averaging 0.55 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- The fight crosses divisional lines, with Costa a career middleweight and Murzakanov operating at light heavyweight, adding an unusual dynamic to the matchup.
- Both men carry heavy hands and near-identical striking accuracy, setting up a potentially explosive stand-up contest.
- Costa's pre-fight gamesmanship had no visible effect on Murzakanov, who kept his composure — suggesting the Russian veteran is unlikely to be drawn into an emotional exchange come fight night.
- A strong performance for either man could meaningfully shift their standing in what are currently crowded and competitive divisional rankings.
