Paulo Costa attempts to provoke Azamat Murzakanov, who responds with smiles

Paulo Costa tried to provoke Azamat Murzakanov during a pre-fight interaction, but the Russian fighter responded only with smiles. The exchange occurred in the lead-up to their bout scheduled for this weekend at UFC 327. Costa's attempts at mental warfare did not appear to rattle Murzakanov, who remained calm and smiling throughout the confrontation. The contrasting reactions highlight the different approaches the two fighters are taking heading into their middleweight clash. The fight represents a significant opportunity for both men in the UFC middleweight division.