Murzakanov most successful short light heavyweight in UFC history

Azamat Murzakanov has quietly carved out a piece of UFC history, establishing himself as the most successful short light heavyweight the promotion has ever seen ahead of his bout with Paulo Costa at UFC 327 on April 11.

Murzakanov, 37, stands five-foot-ten, or 178 cm, and carries a perfect 6-0 record inside the UFC's light heavyweight division, part of an overall professional mark of 16-1. The Russian southpaw, ranked 12th at 205 pounds and training out of K Dojo Warrior Tribe, surpasses the previous benchmark set by Frank Shamrock, who went 5-0 in the same height category. Murzakanov lands 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy and mixes in a modest takedown threat at 0.55 per 15 minutes. Should he earn a title shot off the back of a win over Costa, he would become the first light heavyweight championship challenger standing under 180 cm in 27 years — a bracket that notably excludes former champions Daniel Cormier and Rashad Evans, both of whom measured 180 cm.

Standing across from him will be Costa, 35, known as The Eraser. The Brazilian is ranked 13th and, while officially listed in the middleweight division, brings elite striking credentials into this matchup. Costa connects at a remarkable 6.26 significant strikes per minute with 58 percent accuracy, making him one of the more dangerous stand-up fighters on the roster. His takedown output is minimal at 0.32 per 15 minutes and he attempts no submissions, signaling a fight that figures to live on the feet.

Why it matters

• Murzakanov's 6-0 UFC run breaks a long-standing record for fighters 179 cm and shorter in the light heavyweight division
• A victory could position him as a rare sub-180 cm title challenger for the first time in nearly three decades
• The stylistic matchup pits two high-volume strikers against each other, with Costa's output rate ranking among the highest in the sport