Paulo Costa attempts to provoke Azamat Murzakanov during face-off

Paulo Costa's pre-fight mind games fell flat at UFC 327 on Thursday, as Azamat Murzakanov met every attempt at provocation with nothing more than a composed smile during their face-off ahead of Saturday's co-main event.

Costa, known by the nickname "The Eraser," brings a 16-4-0 record and a long-established reputation for aggression inside the cage. The 35-year-old Brazilian out of Team Borracha is ranked 13th in the middleweight division and is one of the more relentless pressure fighters in the sport, averaging an impressive 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute at 58 percent accuracy. He throws almost exclusively on the feet, recording virtually no submission attempts in his career.

Murzakanov, nicknamed "The Professional," appeared to live up to that billing during the staredown. The 37-year-old Russian carries a 16-1-0 record and sits 12th in the light heavyweight rankings. Standing five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach, the southpaw out of K Dojo Warrior Tribe averages 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy and adds a modest takedown threat at 0.55 per 15 minutes. His calm demeanor at the face-off suggested Costa's theatrics registered as little more than background noise.

Why it matters

• Costa's pressure-heavy, high-volume striking style meets a composed and experienced opponent in Murzakanov, setting up a striking-focused contest
• Both fighters sit outside the top ten in their respective divisions, making a strong performance critical for either man's ranking trajectory
• Murzakanov's unshaken response to Costa's antics suggests a psychological edge heading into fight night at UFC 327