Paulo Costa attempts to provoke Azamat Murzakanov who responds with smiles

Fight week brought a brief but telling moment when Paulo Costa made a visible effort to get under Azamat Murzakanov's skin during pre-fight activities ahead of their weekend bout — only to be met with nothing more than a smile.

Costa, the Brazilian middleweight ranked thirteenth in his division, has built a reputation as one of the sport's more colorful personalities outside the cage. The 35-year-old carries a 16-4 record and trains out of Team Borracha. Standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, he is one of the more prolific strikers in his weight class, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. His orthodox style is built almost entirely around his hands, with virtually no submission threat in his game.

Murzakanov, fighting out of K Dojo Warrior Tribe, showed none of the agitation Costa was apparently angling for. Nicknamed "The Professional," the 37-year-old Russian appears to be living up to that billing. He holds a 16-1 record and sits twelfth in the light heavyweight rankings. The southpaw stands five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach and lands 4.70 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy, also mixing in 0.55 takedowns per 15 minutes to add a different dimension to his attack.

Why it matters

• Costa's aggression and high-volume striking output will test Murzakanov's composure inside the cage, not just outside it
• Murzakanov's calm refusal to engage in psychological games may reflect a disciplined fight-week approach consistent with his "Professional" persona
• The size disparity is notable — Costa is a middleweight stepping up in weight, facing a ranked light heavyweight with a near-perfect record