Paulo Costa tried to provoke Azamat Murzakanov during their face-off ahead of their upcoming fight, but the Russian fighter only smiled in response. The interaction occurred during the pre-fight ceremonial obligations this week. Murzakanov appeared unfazed by Costa's attempts at psychological warfare. The bout between the two middlewweights is scheduled for this weekend. Costa's provocations failed to elicit the desired reaction from his opponent.
Paulo Costa attempted to get inside Azamat Murzakanov's head during their pre-fight face-off this week, but the Russian responded with little more than a smile, leaving Costa's psychological tactics without the intended effect. The two fighters are set to meet this weekend.
Costa, known as "The Eraser," enters the bout ranked 13th in the middleweight division with a record of 16-4-0. The 35-year-old Brazilian out of Team Borracha is one of the more aggressive strikers in the sport, averaging 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. Standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, Costa fights out of an orthodox stance and has built his reputation almost entirely on his punching power and forward pressure.
Murzakanov, nicknamed "The Professional," carries a 16-1-0 record and sits 12th in the light heavyweight rankings at 37 years old. The Russian southpaw, representing K Dojo Warrior Tribe, stands five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach and lands 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy. He also adds a modest takedown threat, averaging 0.55 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Costa's aggression in the staredown mirrors his in-cage style, suggesting he plans to pressure early and often
- Murzakanov's composed reaction points to the mental discipline that has helped him remain near the top of a loaded division with just one career loss
- The contest features two high-output strikers with nearly identical accuracy numbers, setting up a potential war on the feet
- A strong performance for either fighter could shift their respective divisional rankings heading into the back half of the year
