Azamat Murzakanov and Paulo Costa had their final staredown ahead of their fight at UFC 327. The post includes a poll asking fans to pick the winner, with options for supporting Murzakanov or predicting a Costa victory. No specific details about the interaction between the fighters or any verbal exchanges are mentioned. The faceoff marks the final promotional appearance before their scheduled bout.
Azamat Murzakanov and Paulo Costa completed their final pre-fight faceoff on Thursday, setting the stage for their matchup at UFC 327, scheduled for April 11.
Costa, known as "The Eraser," enters the bout ranked thirteenth in the middleweight division with a professional record of 16-4. The 35-year-old Brazilian out of Team Borracha is one of the sport's most aggressive strikers, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. Standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, the orthodox finisher brings relentless forward pressure and has never recorded a submission attempt in his UFC career.
Murzakanov, nicknamed "The Professional," comes in ranked twelfth at light heavyweight and holds a record of 16-1. The 37-year-old Russian southpaw trains out of K Dojo Warrior Tribe and stands 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 per fifteen minutes. His lone professional loss is the only blemish on an otherwise clean résumé.
Why it matters
- Costa moves up to light heavyweight for this bout, adding a divisional crossover element to the matchup
- A win could push Murzakanov further inside the top ten at 205 pounds, sharpening his positioning in a competitive division
- Both fighters are high-volume strikers with similar accuracy numbers, pointing toward an aggressive, stand-up exchange
- At a combined age of 72, both men carry experience but limited margin for a losing streak
Saturday, April 11, 2026
