Andrey Pulyaev believes Azamat Murzakanov's loss to Paulo Costa was due to poor cardio conditioning. Pulyaev expressed disappointment that Murzakanov lost on his birthday, admitting he himself is not a cardio machine. He also questioned how Costa recovered so well between the second and third rounds, noting Costa looked tired but came out fresh for the final round. Murzakanov suffered a stoppage loss to Costa at UFC 327. Pulyaev suggested Costa's recovery between rounds was suspiciously good.
Russian fighter Andrey Pulyaev has pointed to conditioning as the key reason his compatriot Azamat Murzakanov fell to Paulo Costa at UFC 327 on April 11, while also raising eyebrows over how quickly Costa appeared to recover between rounds.
Pulyaev, a 28-year-old southpaw competing out of Storm Shlemenko Fight Team, carries a 10-5 professional record and stands six-foot-four with a 78-inch reach. He was candid in his reaction to the loss, admitting he is no cardio machine himself, but placing the blame squarely on Murzakanov's conditioning for the stoppage defeat. He also noted that the loss landed on Murzakanov's birthday, adding a personal sting to the disappointment.
Murzakanov, nicknamed "The Professional," entered UFC 327 ranked 12th in the light heavyweight division with a 16-1 record. The 37-year-old Russian, representing K Dojo Warrior Tribe, is a five-foot-ten southpaw who lands 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy. Despite a strong overall profile, Costa's finishing ability proved too much on the night.
Costa, known as "The Eraser," improved to 16-4 and holds the 13th ranking at middleweight. The 35-year-old Brazilian is one of the sport's most dangerous volume strikers, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. Pulyaev expressed particular surprise at how refreshed Costa looked entering the third round after appearing fatigued in the second, stopping short of making a direct accusation but making clear the recovery struck him as unusually rapid.
Why it matters
- Murzakanov's loss at 16-1 is a significant setback for his light heavyweight ranking and title aspirations
- Costa's convincing stoppage strengthens his position in a competitive middleweight division despite the cross-divisional nature of the bout
- Pulyaev's public commentary adds a social dimension to the result, keeping scrutiny on Costa's conditioning methods
Saturday, April 11, 2026
