Video footage shows Paulo Costa trying to provoke his upcoming opponent Azamat Murzakanov, but Murzakanov only smiled in response to the attempts. The interaction occurred in the lead-up to their fight scheduled for this weekend. Costa's provocations did not appear to have the desired effect on the calm Murzakanov. The post suggests this is part of the pre-fight buildup between the two fighters. Further details about the nature or context of the provocation are limited.
Video footage circulating ahead of this weekend's fight captured Paulo Costa making a visible effort to get under the skin of Azamat Murzakanov during the pre-fight buildup — only for Murzakanov to respond with little more than a smile.
Costa, known as "The Eraser," enters the bout ranked 13th in the middleweight division with a 16-4-0 record. The 35-year-old Brazilian out of Team Borracha stands six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach and fights out of an orthodox stance. He is one of the more prolific strikers in the sport, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate, numbers that reflect an aggressive, forward-pressure style.
Murzakanov, nicknamed "The Professional," carries a 16-1-0 record into the contest and sits 12th in the light heavyweight rankings. The 37-year-old Russian, who trains with K Dojo Warrior Tribe, is a southpaw standing five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach. He lands 4.70 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy and also contributes on the ground, averaging 0.55 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Costa's mind-game attempt ahead of the fight appeared to have no effect, with Murzakanov projecting composure throughout the exchange.
- Both fighters sit just outside the top 10 in their respective divisions, meaning a strong performance could push either man toward more prominent matchups.
- The stylistic contrast is notable — Costa's relentless striking output against a composed, experienced operator in Murzakanov who mixes striking with takedown pressure.
