Paulo Costa tries to provoke Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327 presser

Paulo Costa attempted to get under Azamat Murzakanov's skin at the pre-fight media event ahead of UFC 327, which takes place this Saturday, April 11. Murzakanov responded to the provocation with nothing more than a smile, refusing to take the bait and remaining composed throughout the exchange.

Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," is a 35-year-old Brazilian middleweight currently ranked 13th in his division. He carries a professional record of 16-4-0 and is known for an aggressive, high-volume striking style, averaging 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. Standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, he competes out of Team Borracha as an orthodox fighter.

Murzakanov, known as "The Professional," is a 37-year-old Russian competing in the light heavyweight division, where he is ranked 12th. He holds a record of 16-1-0 and fights out of K Dojo Warrior Tribe as a southpaw. Standing five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach, he averages 4.7 significant strikes landed per minute at a 57 percent accuracy rate and shows a slightly more active grappling game than his opponent, averaging 0.55 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• Costa's attempt to provoke a reaction suggests a tactical or psychological element entering the pre-fight buildup
• Murzakanov's calm response underscores the composed, professional approach that defines his public persona
• The bout carries divisional relevance for both men, with Costa seeking to move up from middleweight and Murzakanov looking to climb the light heavyweight rankings
• Contrasting stances — orthodox versus southpaw — add a technical wrinkle to what figures to be a striking-centric matchup