Paulo Costa attempts to provoke Azamat Murzakanov at face-off

Paulo Costa tried to get under Azamat Murzakanov's skin during their face-off ahead of UFC 327, but the Russian contender refused to take the bait, meeting Costa's provocations with nothing more than a smile. The two are set to clash in the co-main event when the card goes live this weekend on April 11.

Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," enters the fight at 16-4-0 and sits ranked 13th in the middleweight division. The 35-year-old Brazilian out of Team Borracha is one of the sport's most aggressive pressure strikers, landing an imposing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. He fights out of an orthodox stance and stands six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach.

Murzakanov, who goes by "The Professional," carries a 16-1-0 record and holds the 12th ranking in the light heavyweight division. The 37-year-old Russian trains with K Dojo Warrior Tribe and brings a southpaw style to the cage. He stands five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach and lands 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy, also mixing in 0.55 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• Costa moves up to light heavyweight for this contest, adding an additional layer of intrigue to the stylistic matchup
• Both fighters sit just outside the top ten in their respective divisions, making a strong performance valuable for either man's ranking prospects
• The contrasting pre-fight demeanors — Costa's aggression versus Murzakanov's composure — mirror a striking matchup between two high-volume, high-accuracy punchers
• Murzakanov's slight takedown threat could factor against a fighter in Costa who averages fewer than one takedown attempt per 15 minutes