Paulo Costa attempts to provoke Azamat Murzakanov ahead of UFC 327 clash

Paulo Costa made a visible attempt to get inside Azamat Murzakanov's head during a pre-fight interaction ahead of their UFC 327 meeting on April 11, but the Russian contender responded with nothing more than a smile.

Costa, known as "The Eraser," enters the bout ranked 13th in the middleweight division with a record of 16 wins and 4 losses. The 35-year-old Brazilian trains out of Team Borracha and has built his reputation on elite striking output, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy — figures that rank among the best in the division. He fights out of an orthodox stance and stands six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach.

Murzakanov, who carries the nickname "The Professional," holds a 16-1-0 record and sits 12th in the light heavyweight rankings at 37 years old. The southpaw out of Russia and K Dojo Warrior Tribe stands five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach, landing 4.70 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy. His composure during the face-off appeared to match his nickname, as Costa's attempts at psychological pressure drew no visible reaction from the Dagestani fighter.

Why it matters

• Costa is a natural middleweight stepping into a contest against a ranked light heavyweight, making the weight dynamic a notable subplot.
• Murzakanov's calm response to Costa's provocation suggests a composed mental approach heading into the fight.
• Both fighters rely primarily on striking, with minimal submission attempts on record, setting up a likely stand-up contest.
• A win for either man carries real divisional weight, with Murzakanov inside the light heavyweight top 15 and Costa looking to climb back up the middleweight ladder.