Paulo Costa attempts to provoke Azamat Murzakanov at face-off

At the UFC 327 pre-fight face-off, Paulo Costa made a concerted effort to get inside Azamat Murzakanov's head — and Murzakanov responded with nothing more than a smile.

Costa, known as "The Eraser," enters the bout with a 16-4-0 record and is ranked 13th in the middleweight division, though this weekend he steps up to compete at light heavyweight. The 35-year-old Brazilian trains out of Team Borracha and is one of the sport's most aggressive pressure fighters, landing an impressive 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. His orthodox stance and 72-inch reach have made him a handful for opponents in close quarters.

Murzakanov, nicknamed "The Professional," presents a composed contrast. The 37-year-old Russian holds a 16-1-0 record and sits at number 12 in the light heavyweight rankings, making this a divisionally relevant contest for him. Fighting out of K Dojo Warrior Tribe in a southpaw stance, he lands 4.70 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy and adds a modest takedown threat at 0.55 per 15 minutes. His measured reaction at the face-off — a simple smile in response to Costa's antics — appeared to be a deliberate extension of the composed persona he carries into competition.

Why it matters

• Costa is moving up from middleweight, adding an extra layer of intrigue to how the size and weight transition affects his performance.
• Murzakanov, ranked 12th at light heavyweight, could use a strong showing to push further up a competitive division.
• The southpaw-versus-orthodox dynamic creates an interesting technical wrinkle, with both men offering similar striking accuracy but differing output levels.
• Costa's psychological pressure tactics falling flat at the face-off may signal that Murzakanov enters fight week mentally locked in.