Azamat Murzakanov currently stands at 6-0 in the UFC light heavyweight division, making him the most successful fighter under 179 cm tall in the division's history. At 178 cm, he surpasses other notable short light heavyweights including Frank Shamrock (5-0 at 178 cm) and Ilir Latifi (7-5 at 178 cm). If Murzakanov fights for the title, he would be the first challenger under 180 cm to compete for the light heavyweight belt in 27 years. He faces Paulo Costa at UFC 327 this Saturday in a key matchup that could determine his title shot prospects.
Azamat Murzakanov will carry an unblemished six-fight UFC record into his light heavyweight clash against Paulo Costa at UFC 327 on April 11, a run that already makes him the most successful fighter under 179 centimetres tall in the division's history.
Murzakanov, known as "The Professional," stands at 178 centimetres and holds a 16-1-0 overall record fighting out of K Dojo Warrior Tribe. The 37-year-old Russian is ranked twelfth in the UFC light heavyweight division and fights out of a southpaw stance. He lands 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy and adds 0.55 takedowns per fifteen minutes, rounding out a well-balanced offensive profile.
His opponent, Brazilian striker Paulo Costa, moves up from middleweight for this contest. "The Eraser" is 35 years old, stands six-foot-one at 185 centimetres, and carries a 16-4-0 record with a thirteenth-place divisional ranking. Costa is one of the sport's most prolific volume strikers, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a sharp 58 percent accuracy, though his takedown and submission output is minimal.
The historical dimension adds weight to what is already a meaningful contest. According to verified data, Murzakanov's six-win UFC run at 178 centimetres surpasses both Frank Shamrock's five-win stretch and Ilir Latifi's seven-win, five-loss ledger at the same height. Latifi, now 43 and fighting out of Allstars Training Center, posted a 17-9-0 career record and was long considered the benchmark for undersized light heavyweights.
Why it matters
- A Murzakanov win could position him as a title contender and would make him the first sub-180-centimetre challenger for the light heavyweight belt in 27 years.
- The matchup pits Murzakanov's balanced striking-and-grappling game against one of the division's most dangerous pure strikers in Costa.
- Both fighters sit inside the top thirteen of their respective divisional rankings, meaning the outcome carries real weight in the light heavyweight picture.
Saturday, April 11, 2026
