Paulo Costa is experiencing significant difficulties making weight for his upcoming middleweight bout, with someone from his team posting video showing him barely able to make 93 kg (205 lbs), despite previously competing at 84 kg (185 lbs). Costa has also changed his stance on Russian fighters, now stating he hates them and that Azamat Murzakanov will be the second consecutive Russian opponent in his record. After dealing with Murzakanov, Costa has identified Khamzat Chimaev as his third Russian target. The post also mentions other UFC 327 news, including Johnny Walker giving Jiri Prochazka a surprise gift related to his upcoming daughter's birth, Jon Jones announcing his retirement from fighting to focus on business, Merab Dvalishvili planning two more fights this year despite a broken nose, and Josh Hockett apologizing after breaking character following a cringe-worthy performance.
Paulo Costa's weight cut ahead of his middleweight contest at UFC 327 has raised eyebrows after footage posted by a member of his team showed the Brazilian barely hitting 93 kilograms — the light heavyweight limit — despite being booked for a bout at the 84-kilogram middleweight ceiling.
Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," carries a 16-4-0 professional record and sits ranked 13th in the middleweight division at 35 years old. The six-foot-one Brazilian trains out of Team Borracha and is one of the more prolific strikers in the division, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. His upcoming opponent, Azamat Murzakanov, would be the second consecutive Russian fighter on his record, and Costa has made no secret of his current feelings toward Russian opponents, stating outright that he hates them. He has already named Khamzat Chimaev as a third Russian target once Murzakanov is dealt with.
Why it matters
- Costa needs to shed several kilograms before fight night, and the footage his team shared raises legitimate questions about his readiness to compete at 185 pounds.
- His public targeting of Russian fighters adds a personal edge to the Murzakanov matchup and sets up a potential future collision with Chimaev, who competes primarily at welterweight but has campaigned at middleweight.
- A strong performance would move Costa up from his current 13th-place middleweight ranking and revive a career that has seen mixed results in recent years.
Elsewhere on the UFC 327 card, light heavyweight contender Jiri Prochazka received a surprise gift from Johnny Walker tied to the imminent birth of his daughter. The Czech fighter holds a 32-6-1 record, stands six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach, and is ranked second in the light heavyweight division. Jon Jones, the 38-year-old former champion who stands six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach and owns a 28-1-0 record, announced his retirement from fighting to pursue business interests.
Saturday, April 11, 2026
