Costa attempts to provoke Murzakanov, Russian fighter responds with smile

Paulo Costa spent fight week trying to get under Azamat Murzakanov's skin ahead of their UFC 327 matchup in Miami on April 11, but the Russian fighter refused to take the bait, meeting Costa's provocations with nothing more than a calm smile.

Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," enters the bout ranked thirteenth in the middleweight division with a record of 16-4. The 35-year-old Brazilian out of Team Borracha stands six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach and is one of the division's most relentless pressure fighters, landing an eye-catching 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. His orthodox stance and forward-moving style have long made him a handful for opponents, and his pre-fight antics suggest he is looking to add a psychological edge as well.

Murzakanov, who fights out of K Dojo Warrior Tribe, holds a 16-1 record and sits twelfth in the light heavyweight rankings. The 37-year-old southpaw from Russia stands five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach and lands 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy. Nicknamed "The Professional," Murzakanov appeared to live up to that billing during the pre-fight interactions, projecting composure where Costa was looking for confrontation.

Why it matters

• Costa is a ranked middleweight stepping up or across divisional lines to face a ranked light heavyweight, making the weight dynamic an intriguing subplot.
• Murzakanov's unflappable demeanor suggests he is not easily drawn into the mental warfare Costa has used throughout his career.
• Both fighters carry high striking output and similar accuracy numbers, pointing toward an aggressive, stand-and-trade contest.
• A win for either man would carry significant rankings implications in what promises to be one of the weekend's most closely watched bouts.