Azamat Murzakanov, standing 178 cm tall, has achieved a perfect 6-0 record in the UFC light heavyweight division, making him the most successful fighter under 180 cm in the division's history. He surpasses Frank Shamrock's 5-0 record at the same height. Murzakanov faces Paulo Costa this Saturday at UFC 327. If he reaches a title shot, he would be the first fighter under 180 cm to compete for the light heavyweight belt in 27 years, since fighters like Daniel Cormier and Rashad Evans both stood exactly 180 cm.
Azamat Murzakanov etched his name into UFC history ahead of his light heavyweight bout against Paulo Costa at UFC 327 on April 11, becoming the most successful sub-180 cm fighter the 205-pound division has ever produced.
Murzakanov, who stands 178 cm and fights out of K Dojo Warrior Tribe, carries a 16-1-0 overall record and a perfect 6-0 mark inside the UFC's light heavyweight division. The 37-year-old Russian southpaw holds the division's No. 12 ranking and lands 4.7 significant strikes per minute at a 57 percent accuracy rate, with a 71-inch reach that undersells opponents at his own peril. His six UFC wins surpass the five accumulated by Frank Shamrock at the same height, a standard that had stood as the benchmark for compact light heavyweights in the promotion's history.
Waiting across the cage is Paulo Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," a 35-year-old Brazilian ranked 13th in the middleweight division who is making the step up to 205 pounds. Costa stands 185 cm with a 183 cm reach and owns a 16-4-0 record. He is one of the more prolific strikers in recent UFC memory, averaging 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, though he averages fewer than a third of a takedown per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- A Murzakanov victory would push his UFC light heavyweight record to 7-0, extending a historic mark for fighters under 180 cm in the division.
- Should he earn a title shot from here, Murzakanov would be the first fighter standing under 180 cm to compete for the light heavyweight belt in 27 years, a distinction that eluded even celebrated champions such as Daniel Cormier, who stood exactly 180 cm.
- The matchup pits Murzakanov's southpaw precision against Costa's relentless forward pressure and elite striking volume, setting up a compelling exchange between two fighters who prefer to keep the fight standing.
Saturday, April 11, 2026
