Daniel Cormier praises Costa's performance against Murzakanov at UFC 327

Broadcasting veteran Daniel Cormier offered high praise for Paulo Costa following Costa's performance at UFC 327 on April 11, calling the Brazilian's showing an impressive display in his light heavyweight debut against Azamat Murzakanov.

The victory carried extra weight for Costa, a 35-year-old middleweight ranked 13th in his division, because it represented his first finish since 2018 and his first winning streak of two or more fights since 2019. Known as "The Eraser," the orthodox striker out of Brazil carries one of the more imposing offensive outputs in the sport, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. His record now stands at 16-4-0, and the move up to light heavyweight appears to have coincided with a renewed sense of momentum for a fighter whose career had stalled in recent years.

The 2018 finish Cormier referenced was Costa's victory over Uriah Hall, who carries an 18-11-0 record and has long been regarded as one of the more dangerous strikers in the middleweight division. That win helped establish Costa's early reputation as a knockout threat before his consistency began to waver.

Cormier, a retired champion with a professional record of 22-3-0, lent credibility to the assessment given his standing as one of the sport's most respected analysts.

Why it matters

• Costa's first finish in roughly seven years signals a potential return to form for one of middleweight's most explosive strikers
• A second consecutive win is his longest streak in over five years, rebuilding his standing in the rankings
• The move to light heavyweight adds a new layer to Costa's career trajectory and divisional picture at 205 pounds