Paulo Costa attempts to provoke Azamat Murzakanov, who responds with smiles

A pre-fight face-off between Paulo Costa and Azamat Murzakanov ahead of UFC 327 turned into a study in contrasts, with Costa attempting to get under his opponent's skin and Murzakanov responding with nothing more than a smile.

Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," enters the bout carrying a 16-4 record and holds the number 13 ranking in the middleweight division. The 35-year-old Brazilian is one of the most aggressive strikers in the UFC, landing an impressive 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. Fighting out of an orthodox stance and standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, Costa has built his career on relentless forward pressure and high-volume output.

Murzakanov, known as "The Professional," brings a 16-1 record into Saturday's contest and sits at number 12 in the light heavyweight rankings. The 37-year-old Russian southpaw trains with K Dojo Warrior Tribe and has earned a reputation for composed, technical fighting. Standing five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach, he lands 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy and mixes in takedowns at a rate of 0.55 per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• Costa's pre-fight antics are a known part of his game plan, but Murzakanov's calm reaction suggests the psychological ploy had little effect.
• The matchup pits one of middleweight's most prolific strikers against a composed light heavyweight contender, making weight-class context an interesting factor.
• Both men are ranked in the top 15 of their respective divisions, meaning a strong performance could shake up the standings at 205 pounds and 185 pounds simultaneously.
• Murzakanov's unbothered demeanor heading into fight week may signal a strategic confidence that could carry over into the octagon on Friday night.