Azamat Murzakanov sets UFC light heavyweight record for shortest fighter

Azamat Murzakanov has quietly carved out a piece of UFC history at light heavyweight, and a marquee fight at UFC 327 on April 11 could push him even further into the record books.

Standing at 178 cm, Murzakanov now holds the best UFC light heavyweight record among fighters under 180 cm tall. His perfect 6-0 mark inside the promotion surpasses the 5-0 standard previously set by Frank Shamrock at the same height. Should the Russian earn a title shot off the back of his next victory, he would become the first challenger under 180 cm to compete for the light heavyweight belt in 27 years.

Murzakanov, 37, carries an overall professional record of 16-1-0 and is ranked 12th in the light heavyweight division. Fighting out of K Dojo Warrior Tribe in the southpaw stance, he lands 4.7 significant strikes per minute at a 57 percent accuracy rate, with a reach of 180 cm. The size disadvantage he routinely absorbs has done little to slow his ascent.

Standing between him and any title conversation is Paulo Costa, a former middleweight contender ranked 13th in that division at 16-4-0. The 35-year-old Brazilian known as "The Eraser" is one of the more physically imposing fighters on the roster, measuring 185 cm tall with a 183 cm reach. Costa is a volume striker who lands 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, making him a dangerous test for any opponent willing to trade on the feet.

Why it matters

• A Murzakanov win would keep alive the possibility of the first sub-180 cm light heavyweight title challenger in nearly three decades.
• Costa is moving up from middleweight, adding an extra layer of divisional intrigue to the matchup.
• The stylistic contrast is sharp: Murzakanov's measured southpaw approach against Costa's high-volume Orthodox attack.