Azamat Murzakanov and Paulo Costa faced off for the final time before their bout at UFC 327. The staredown preceded their scheduled fight at the Miami event. Both fighters met during the ceremonial weigh-ins as part of the traditional pre-fight rituals. The matchup represents a significant opportunity for both middleweights on the card.
Azamat Murzakanov and Paulo Costa locked eyes for the final time Friday evening ahead of their middleweight bout at UFC 327 in Miami, completing the ceremonial weigh-in staredown that signals fight week is nearly over.
Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," enters the contest ranked thirteenth in the middleweight division with a 16-4 record. The 35-year-old Brazilian out of Team Borracha is one of the more prolific pressure strikers in the division, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. Standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, he fights out of an orthodox stance and has virtually no submission activity in his UFC career.
Murzakanov, known as "The Professional," brings a 16-1 record and sits twelfth in the light heavyweight rankings, though he competes at middleweight for this bout. The 37-year-old Russian trains with K Dojo Warrior Tribe and is a southpaw standing five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach. He lands 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy and adds a modest takedown threat at 0.55 attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Costa is a ranked middleweight looking to climb back toward the top ten with a strong finish
- Murzakanov, ranked at light heavyweight, takes a step down in weight class, adding an unusual divisional dimension to the matchup
- Both fighters carry high striking accuracy and volume, pointing toward an aggressive, forward-pressure contest
- A win for either man carries legitimate rankings implications in a competitive 185-pound division
Saturday, April 11, 2026
