Cormier praises Costa's performance against Murzakanov at UFC 327

Daniel Cormier publicly lauded Paulo Costa's victory over Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327, which took place on April 11, 2026, calling attention to a performance he considered especially noteworthy given the Brazilian's recent run of results.

Costa, 35, competes at middleweight and enters the win with a record of 16-4-0, currently ranked thirteenth in the division. Fighting out of Team Borracha in an orthodox stance, the six-foot-one Brazilian carries a 72-inch reach and has long been regarded as one of the more dangerous strikers in the weight class, averaging 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. The victory over Murzakanov is significant for more than just the win itself. According to verified data, Costa's last finish came back in 2018, when he stopped Uriah Hall, meaning the gap between stoppage wins stretched across several years. The last time he strung together two or more consecutive victories was in 2019, making this latest result potentially the start of a new streak.

Cormier, the former two-division UFC champion with a professional record of 22-3-0, offered his praise in commentary following the event. His endorsement carries weight given his standing in the sport, and his remarks framed the win as a notable resurgence for Costa against the backdrop of a difficult recent stretch competitively.

Why it matters

• Costa snapping a drought of back-to-back wins dating to 2019 could signal a renewed push through the top of the middleweight division
• A first finish since 2018 adds a dimension to his performance that raw victories had not provided in the intervening years
• At 35, Costa's ranked position at thirteenth leaves room for meaningful climbs if he can sustain momentum