Andrei Pulyaev believes Azamat Murzakanov's defeat was primarily due to poor cardio conditioning. Pulyaev expressed disappointment that Murzakanov lost on his birthday and admitted he himself is not a cardio machine. He also raised questions about how Paulo Costa recovered so well between the second and third rounds, noting that Costa appeared exhausted but then came out looking fresh for the third round. The comments suggest Pulyaev found Costa's recovery suspicious or remarkable.
Andrei Pulyaev has publicly attributed Azamat Murzakanov's recent defeat to Paulo Costa to a lack of cardio conditioning, voicing his frustration over the loss and raising eyebrows about Costa's remarkable recovery during the fight.
Murzakanov, who fights out of K Dojo Warrior Tribe, entered the bout carrying a 16-1-0 record in the light heavyweight division, where the 37-year-old Russian holds the number 12 ranking. The southpaw stands five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach and lands 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy, making him a reliable, technically sound striker. According to Pulyaev, the defeat landed on Murzakanov's birthday, adding a personal sting to the setback.
Costa, ranked 13th in the middleweight division and competing at 16-4-0, is one of the sport's most recognizable pressure fighters. The Brazilian, who trains with Team Borracha, is 35 years old and stands six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach. His output is notable — he lands 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, among the higher marks in the division. Pulyaev acknowledged that Costa is no stranger to cardio struggles himself, yet expressed surprise at how refreshed Costa appeared coming out for the third round after seemingly fading in the second.
Why it matters
- Pulyaev's comments put a spotlight on conditioning as a decisive factor in the outcome, shifting focus away from technical or tactical explanations.
- His pointed remarks about Costa's between-round recovery add a layer of intrigue to how the fight unfolded, stopping short of a direct accusation but clearly flagging it as notable.
- With Murzakanov sitting at 12th in the light heavyweight rankings, the loss carries real divisional consequences for his path toward the top ten.
