Paulo Costa attempts to provoke Murzakanov, who only smiles in response

Paulo Costa's attempt to get inside Azamat Murzakanov's head at a pre-fight face-off this week fell flat, with the Russian fighter responding to the Brazilian's taunts with nothing more than a composed smile.

Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," enters the weekend bout at 35 years old carrying a 16-4 record and sitting ranked 13th in the UFC middleweight division. The Brazilian out of Team Borracha is one of the sport's most aggressive strikers, landing an impressive 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. His pressure-heavy, orthodox style has long been accompanied by a flair for pre-fight theatrics, and the face-off was no exception.

Murzakanov, who fights out of K Dojo Warrior Tribe, arrives under the nickname "The Professional" — a label that appeared fitting given his demeanor at the confrontation. The 37-year-old Russian holds a 16-1 record and is ranked 12th in the light heavyweight division. Standing five-foot-ten with a southpaw stance, he lands 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy and adds a modest takedown threat at 0.55 per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• Costa's history of psychological gamesmanship is a known part of his fight-week approach, and Murzakanov's unfazed reaction denied him any visible edge.
• The matchup crosses divisional lines, with Costa moving up from middleweight to face a ranked light heavyweight contender.
• Both fighters rely primarily on striking, setting up a potential stand-and-trade encounter between two high-volume, accurate punchers.
• A strong performance by either man carries rankings implications in a light heavyweight division that remains in flux.