Daniel Cormier gave a high evaluation of Paulo Costa's performance in his fight against Azamat Murzakanov. The post notes that Costa's last finish victory was in 2018 against Uriah Hall, making this recent performance particularly noteworthy. The last time Costa was on a winning streak of two or more consecutive victories was in 2019. Cormier's assessment indicates that Costa looked "very good" in the bout, suggesting a strong return to form for the Brazilian middleweight.
Former UFC champion Daniel Cormier heaped praise on Paulo Costa following Costa's recent middleweight bout against Azamat Murzakanov, describing the Brazilian as looking "very good" in the performance.
Costa, 35, carries a professional record of 16-4 and is currently ranked 13th in the UFC middleweight division. The Brazilian trains out of Team Borracha and fights out of an orthodox stance, standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach. A natural finisher, Costa lands an impressive 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy — numbers that reflect the explosive, pressure-heavy style he has become known for. The win over Murzakanov is notable for more than one reason: it marks Costa's first finish since he stopped Uriah Hall back in 2018, and it puts him on a winning streak of two or more consecutive victories for the first time since 2019.
Uriah Hall, who was on the wrong end of that 2018 stoppage, holds an 18-11 record at age 41 and represents a recognizable name on Costa's resume, giving some weight to the significance of that earlier finish.
Cormier, the 47-year-old Hall of Fame fighter and broadcaster with a career record of 22-3, carries considerable credibility when evaluating talent. His endorsement of Costa's showing against Murzakanov adds meaningful outside perspective to what appears to be a genuine resurgence for the middleweight contender.
Why it matters
- Costa snapping a finish drought stretching back to 2018 signals a potential return to his most dangerous form
- Back-to-back wins for the first time since 2019 rebuild his case as a legitimate middleweight contender
- A high-profile co-sign from Cormier raises Costa's visibility at 185 pounds and could accelerate a push toward ranked opposition
