Costa attempts to provoke Murzakanov during UFC 327 faceoff

Paulo Costa attempted to get under Azamat Murzakanov's skin during the ceremonial weigh-in faceoff ahead of their UFC 327 bout on April 11, but the Russian light heavyweight responded with little more than a composed smile.

Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," brings a 16-4-0 record into the fight and is ranked 13th in the middleweight division. The 35-year-old Brazilian out of Team Borracha stands six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach and fights out of an orthodox stance. He is one of the more aggressive strikers in the sport, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate, though his takedown and submission output remains minimal.

Murzakanov, who goes by "The Professional," enters with a 16-1-0 record and sits 12th in the light heavyweight rankings. The 37-year-old Russian, who trains with K Dojo Warrior Tribe, is a southpaw standing five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach. He lands 4.70 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy and contributes a modest takedown threat at 0.55 per 15 minutes.

The faceoff dynamic told a clear story about contrasting personalities. Costa leaned into his customary pre-fight theater, while Murzakanov's calm demeanor earned him the better of the exchange in the eyes of many observers watching the video circulate online.

Why it matters

• Costa drops up from middleweight, making this a crossroads contest against a ranked light heavyweight
• A win for Murzakanov would strengthen his case for a top-ten move in a competitive 205-pound division
• The striking styles are closely matched on paper, with both men posting similar accuracy figures but Costa holding a significant volume edge