Azamat Murzakanov holds a 6-0 record in the UFC light heavyweight division, making him the most successful fighter in the division who stands 179 cm or shorter. The post details that if he reaches a title fight, he would be the first sub-180 cm challenger in 27 years at 205 pounds. Murzakanov is scheduled to face Paulo Costa at UFC 327 this Saturday. Historical context shows other short light heavyweights like Frank Shamrock (5-0 at 178 cm) and Ilir Latifi (7-5 at 178 cm) never matched his unblemished record. The only previous title challengers close to his height were Daniel Cormier and Rashad Evans, both at 180 cm.
Azamat Murzakanov enters UFC 327 on April 11 carrying a statistical distinction that underlines just how remarkable his run in the light heavyweight division has been: the Russian contender owns a perfect 6-0 mark inside the UFC's 205-pound weight class, making him the most successful fighter at that level who stands 179 cm or shorter.
Murzakanov, 37, comes in ranked 12th in the division with an overall professional record of 16-1-0. Standing five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach, the southpaw out of K Dojo Warrior Tribe lands 4.7 significant strikes per minute at a 57 percent accuracy rate, numbers that reflect a precise and disciplined approach to his craft. Should he continue winning and eventually earn a title shot, he would become the first sub-180 cm challenger at light heavyweight in 27 years — a threshold previously approached only by fighters like Daniel Cormier and Rashad Evans, both of whom stood 180 cm. Among shorter light heavyweights historically, Frank Shamrock went 5-0 at 178 cm and Ilir Latifi finished 7-5 at the same height, but neither matched Murzakanov's unblemished UFC ledger.
Standing across from him will be Paulo Costa, the hard-hitting Brazilian known as "The Eraser." Costa, 35, is ranked 13th in the middleweight division and carries a 16-4-0 record. At six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, he will hold a significant size advantage over Murzakanov. Costa is one of the sport's most prolific strikers, averaging 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, though his takedown and submission output remains minimal.
Why it matters
- Murzakanov's perfect UFC record is the best among light heavyweights 179 cm or shorter in the promotion's history
- A win could push him into the top ten and within striking distance of the first sub-180 cm title challenge in nearly three decades
- The size mismatch — seven centimeters in height, three centimeters in reach — sets up a classic big-versus-precise striker dynamic
Saturday, April 11, 2026
