Paulo Costa attempts to provoke Azamat Murzakanov at weigh-in

Paulo Costa brought his trademark theatrics to the scale ahead of his weekend clash with Azamat Murzakanov, attempting to get under his opponent's skin during their weigh-in face-off — only to be met with a calm smile from the Russian contender.

Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," enters the fight as a ranked middleweight despite this bout taking place at light heavyweight. The 35-year-old Brazilian out of Team Borracha carries a 16-4 record and has long been known for his aggressive, high-output striking. He lands an impressive 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, making him one of the more dangerous punchers in the sport. At six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, he brings notable physical tools to the matchup.

Murzakanov, meanwhile, is right at home in the light heavyweight division, where he sits ranked 12th with a 16-1 record. The 37-year-old southpaw from Russia, fighting out of K Dojo Warrior Tribe, earned his nickname "The Professional" for composed, methodical performances. He stands five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach and lands 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy. His takedown rate of 0.55 per 15 minutes also gives him a functional wrestling dimension. His measured smile at the weigh-in appeared to be entirely in character.

Why it matters

• Costa is moving up from middleweight, creating an interesting size and weight-class dynamic
• A win could push either fighter up the light heavyweight rankings from their current positions at No. 12 and No. 13 respectively
• The matchup pits Costa's high-volume pressure striking against Murzakanov's composed southpaw counter-fighting style
• Costa's weigh-in behavior signals he plans to fight with his usual emotional intensity, while Murzakanov appears unbothered heading into fight night