Azamat Murzakanov holds a 6-0 UFC record at light heavyweight despite standing just 178cm tall, making him the most successful fighter in that weight class under 179cm in UFC history. The post provides a comprehensive list of the shortest light heavyweights in UFC history, noting that only Frank Shamrock (5-0 at 178cm) had a comparable undefeated record, though that was 27 years ago. If Murzakanov reaches a title fight, he would be the first fighter under 180cm to challenge for the 205-pound belt in nearly three decades. Murzakanov faces Paulo Costa at UFC 327 this Saturday in what could be a significant step toward title contention.
Azamat Murzakanov has quietly built one of the most overlooked unbeaten streaks in the UFC, and a new statistical breakdown reveals just how historically rare his run has become among shorter light heavyweights.
Standing five-foot-ten, or 178 cm, Murzakanov has gone 6-0 inside the octagon at 205 pounds, making him the most successful UFC light heavyweight under 179 cm in the promotion's history. The only comparable run belongs to Frank Shamrock, who also stood five-foot-ten and went 5-0 in the division — but that was 27 years ago. The 37-year-old Russian, ranked twelfth at light heavyweight and fighting out of K Dojo Warrior Tribe, carries an overall professional record of 16-1-0. The southpaw lands 4.7 significant strikes per minute at a 57 percent accuracy rate and supplements his output with 0.55 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Murzakanov's next assignment arrives Saturday at UFC 327, where he meets Paulo Costa in a fight that could sharpen his title contention credentials. Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," is a 35-year-old Brazilian fighting out of Team Borracha. He holds a professional record of 16-4-0 and is ranked thirteenth in the middleweight division, though the database lists him competing here. Costa is one of the most prolific volume strikers in the sport, averaging 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. His takedown and submission output is minimal, pointing to a fight likely decided on the feet.
Why it matters
- A Murzakanov win would extend the most impressive unbeaten run for a sub-179 cm fighter in UFC light heavyweight history.
- Should he advance toward a title shot, he would become the first fighter under 180 cm to challenge for the 205-pound belt in nearly three decades.
- Both men favor striking, setting up a high-output exchanges between a southpaw with a 71-inch reach and one of the division's most accurate pressure fighters.
Saturday, April 11, 2026
