Paulo Costa attempts to provoke Azamat Murzakanov, Russian fighter smiles

Paulo Costa's attempt to get inside Azamat Murzakanov's head at the UFC 327 pre-fight face-off on Thursday fell flat, with the Russian simply smiling back at the Brazilian's provocations ahead of their Saturday bout.

Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," enters the fight at 16-4-0 and ranks thirteenth in the middleweight division. The 35-year-old Brazilian out of Team Borracha is one of the sport's most aggressive strikers, landing an eye-catching 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. Standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, he fights out of an orthodox stance and has historically relied almost entirely on his hands, recording virtually no submission attempts.

Murzakanov, who carries the nickname "The Professional," is undefeated in all but one of his 17 professional outings, holding a 16-1-0 record as the twelfth-ranked light heavyweight in the UFC. 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 averages 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy and adds a modest takedown threat at 0.55 per 15 minutes.

The face-off footage spread widely across social media platforms ahead of fight night, with Murzakanov's composed, amused reaction drawing considerable attention from fans and analysts alike.

Why it matters

• Costa is a middleweight stepping up or across divisions to face a ranked light heavyweight, adding an unusual physical and competitive dimension to the matchup.
• Murzakanov's unruffled response to Costa's gamesmanship signals a mental composure that could be a factor in a fight where Costa often thrives on emotional intensity.
• Both fighters bring high striking accuracy and volume, setting up a potentially explosive stand-up exchange at UFC 327.