Azamat Murzakanov and Paulo Costa completed their final staredown before their fight at UFC 327. The post features the ceremonial weigh-in faceoff between the two fighters. Russian fighter Murzakanov will represent his country in the matchup against Brazilian veteran Costa. The bout is part of the UFC 327 card taking place in Miami.
Azamat Murzakanov and Paulo Costa stood across from each other at the ceremonial weigh-in faceoff on April 10, setting the stage for their UFC 327 clash scheduled for the following evening in Miami.
Murzakanov, known as "The Professional," enters the bout representing Russia with a strong 16-1-0 record and a number-12 ranking in the light heavyweight division. The 37-year-old southpaw trains out of K Dojo Warrior Tribe and stands five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach. He has built his reputation as a steady, accurate striker, connecting on 57 percent of his significant strikes and averaging 4.7 significant strikes per minute, while also mixing in a modest takedown threat at 0.55 per 15 minutes.
Costa, the Brazilian veteran nicknamed "The Eraser," steps up from middleweight to face Murzakanov carrying a 16-4-0 record and a number-13 ranking at 185 pounds. At 35 years old, he fights out of Team Borracha in an orthodox stance and measures six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach. Costa is one of the most prolific volume strikers in the UFC, averaging 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate — numbers that have defined his aggressive, forward-pressing style throughout his career.
Why it matters
- Murzakanov is competing at light heavyweight while Costa moves up from middleweight, creating an unusual cross-divisional framing for a ranked fighter.
- A win for either man carries real ranking implications, with both sitting just outside the top ten in their respective divisions.
- The style matchup pits Costa's elite striking volume against Murzakanov's accuracy and takedown capability, offering a genuine tactical contrast between two finishers.
Saturday, April 11, 2026
