Paulo Costa attempts to provoke Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327 pre-fight

Paulo Costa spent part of UFC 327 fight week trying to get under Azamat Murzakanov's skin, but the Russian light heavyweight wasn't biting. Video circulating ahead of Saturday's card showed Costa attempting to stir up a confrontation, while Murzakanov responded with little more than smiles and a composed demeanor throughout the exchange.

Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," is no stranger to the psychological side of fight promotion. The 35-year-old Brazilian carries a 16-4 record into Saturday's bout and is ranked 13th in the middleweight division. Fighting out of Team Borracha, the orthodox striker is one of the sport's most aggressive volume punchers, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate — numbers that place him among the elite in that category.

Murzakanov, who goes by "The Professional," made the mind-games look easy to brush off. The 37-year-old Russian holds a 16-1 record and sits 12th in the light heavyweight rankings, training out of K Dojo Warrior Tribe. A southpaw standing five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach, Murzakanov lands 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy and also adds a modest takedown threat at 0.55 per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• Costa's confrontational approach is a known tactic, but Murzakanov's calm response could signal a focused, undisturbed game plan heading into the fight.
• The bout crosses divisional lines, with Costa a ranked middleweight and Murzakanov a ranked light heavyweight, adding an unusual layer to the rankings implications.
• Both fighters rely primarily on striking, making the style matchup a potentially explosive exchange between two high-accuracy volume strikers.