Paulo Costa tried to provoke Azamat Murzakanov during a promotional appearance ahead of their UFC 327 fight this weekend. Murzakanov responded only with a smile and did not engage with Costa's provocations. The post notes the fight is scheduled for the upcoming weekend but does not provide further details about the nature of Costa's attempts at provocation or the context of the interaction.
Paulo Costa made a public attempt to get under Azamat Murzakanov's skin during a UFC 327 promotional appearance on Thursday, one day before the two are scheduled to share the octagon.
Costa, known as "The Eraser," enters the fight ranked 13th in the middleweight division with a record of 16-4. The 35-year-old Brazilian trains out of Team Borracha and is one of the more aggressive strikers in the sport, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. He carries a 72-inch reach on a six-foot-one frame and fights out of an orthodox stance.
Murzakanov, nicknamed "The Professional," showed exactly why he earned that label by responding to Costa's antics with nothing more than a smile. The 37-year-old Russian holds a 16-1 record and sits at number 12 in the light heavyweight rankings. Fighting out of a southpaw stance, he stands five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach and averages 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy. He trains with K Dojo Warrior Tribe.
Why it matters
- Costa is a middleweight stepping up to light heavyweight, adding a size and weight dynamic to the matchup
- Both men are ranked in their respective divisions, giving the winner a meaningful rankings argument
- Murzakanov's composed response to the mind games could signal a disciplined approach heading into fight night
- Two volume strikers with similar accuracy numbers sets up a potentially explosive stand-up exchange
Saturday, April 11, 2026
