Paulo Costa attempts to provoke Azamat Murzakanov ahead of UFC 327

Paulo Costa made an early attempt to get inside Azamat Murzakanov's head during a pre-fight face-off ahead of their light heavyweight clash at UFC 327, scheduled for April 11. Murzakanov brushed off the provocation with little more than a smile, and footage of the composed exchange quickly circulated across social media.

Costa, known as "The Eraser," enters the bout carrying a 16-4 record at 35 years old. The Brazilian out of Team Borracha is listed at 185 cm tall with a 183 cm reach and holds the 13th ranking in the light heavyweight division. An orthodox striker, Costa is one of the more prolific punchers in the sport, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate — numbers that underline why his trash talk carries genuine physical weight behind it.

Murzakanov, nicknamed "The Professional," counters with a 16-1 record and arrives as the slightly higher-ranked man at number 12 in the division. The 37-year-old Russian southpaw trains out of K Dojo Warrior Tribe and stands 178 cm with a 180 cm reach. He averages 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy and also shows a modest takedown threat at 0.55 per 15 minutes. His unbothered reaction to Costa's antics fits the nickname well.

Why it matters

• Both men sit just outside the top ten at light heavyweight, making a win a potential springboard toward ranked contention.
• Costa's high-volume striking versus Murzakanov's southpaw counterpunching sets up a compelling stylistic puzzle.
• The pre-fight confrontation adds a psychological dimension, though Murzakanov's calm demeanor suggests he is unlikely to be drawn into Costa's preferred mental game.