Paulo Costa knocks out Azamat Murzakanov in third round at UFC 327

Paulo Costa delivered a stunning third-round knockout of Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327 on April 11, moving up from middleweight to light heavyweight to earn one of the most notable finishes of his career.

Costa, known as "The Eraser," entered the bout ranked 13th in the middleweight division and made the jump to 205 pounds with his record sitting at 16-4-0. The 35-year-old Brazilian out of Team Borracha is one of the most prolific strikers in the sport, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. His tactical execution was praised throughout the fight, and observers described the finish as brutal.

Murzakanov, fighting out of Russia under the K Dojo Warrior Tribe banner, came in ranked 12th in the light heavyweight division with a 16-1-0 record. The 37-year-old southpaw had never been knocked out in his professional career before Saturday night, making Costa's stoppage a significant statement. Murzakanov lands 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy, but analysts characterized his approach in this fight as monotonous and tactically predictable, limiting his ability to cope with Costa's offense.

Why it matters

• Costa's knockout win at a higher weight class raises his profile in two divisions simultaneously
• Murzakanov drops to 16-2-0 and suffers the first knockout loss of his career, which may affect his ranking at light heavyweight
• The result puts Costa on the radar in the light heavyweight top 15, creating potential crossover matchup intrigue
• The style contrast — Costa's high-output striking versus Murzakanov's southpaw pressure — ultimately favored the Brazilian's sharper and more varied attack