Andrey Pulyaev believes Azamat Murzakanov's defeat was primarily caused by inadequate cardio preparation. Pulyaev expressed disappointment that Murzakanov lost on his birthday and noted he himself is not a cardio machine. He also raised questions about how Paulo Costa recovered so well between the second and third rounds, suggesting Costa appeared very tired but came out fresh for the third round. Despite Pulyaev's analysis, he acknowledged Costa likely would have won regardless of the conditioning issues.
Andrey Pulyaev has publicly attributed Azamat Murzakanov's recent loss to Paulo Costa to poor cardio conditioning, while also raising eyebrows over how quickly Costa appeared to recover between rounds.
Pulyaev, a 28-year-old Russian light heavyweight fighting out of Storm Shlemenko Fight Team, carries a 10-5 record and brings notable striking volume to his analysis — averaging 3.84 significant strikes per minute with a 56 percent accuracy rate. Standing six-foot-four with a 78-inch reach, he acknowledged in his comments that he is no cardio machine himself, but expressed clear frustration that Murzakanov's preparation fell short.
Murzakanov, known as "The Professional," holds a 16-1 record and is currently ranked 12th in the UFC light heavyweight division. The 37-year-old Russian southpaw from K Dojo Warrior Tribe averages 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy, and adds a modest takedown threat at 0.55 per 15 minutes. Pulyaev noted the defeat landed on Murzakanov's birthday, adding a personal sting to the loss.
Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," improved to 16-4 with the victory. The 35-year-old Brazilian ranked 13th at middleweight is one of the sport's most prolific strikers, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. Pulyaev questioned how Costa, who appeared visibly fatigued late in the fight, managed to come out noticeably refreshed for the third round — stopping short of any direct accusation but leaving the observation open.
Why it matters
- Murzakanov's loss damages his standing as the 12th-ranked light heavyweight, potentially pushing him further from title contention
- The cardio critique points to a preparation concern that could follow Murzakanov into future fight camps
- Costa's performance across weight classes adds an unusual cross-divisional storyline to the fallout
- Pulyaev himself conceded that Costa likely would have won the fight regardless of the conditioning gap
