Daniel Cormier has given high marks to Paulo Costa's performance in his fight against Azamat Murzakanov. Costa's victory was particularly notable as it was his first finish since 2018, when he defeated Uriah Hall. The win also marked Costa's first winning streak of two or more fights since 2019. Cormier's praise highlights the significance of Costa's dominant showing after a period of mixed results. The performance represents a potential resurgence for the Brazilian middleweight.
Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier has publicly praised Paulo Costa following Costa's recent victory over Azamat Murzakanov, calling the Brazilian middleweight's showing a dominant performance worthy of recognition.
Costa, now 16-4 and ranked 13th in the middleweight division, delivered a finish against Murzakanov that carried extra weight beyond the result itself. The 35-year-old from Brazil had not stopped an opponent since his 2018 win over Uriah Hall, making the finish a significant personal milestone. The victory also gave the Team Borracha product back-to-back wins for the first time since 2019, snapping a stretch of inconsistent results that had clouded his standing in the division. A striker who lands 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, Costa has long been regarded as one of the most physically gifted fighters in the weight class, and this performance appeared to reaffirm that reputation.
Cormier, the retired 22-3 former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion, offered his assessment of Costa's resurgence, lending credibility to the notion that the Brazilian has turned a corner after a difficult run.
Why it matters
- Costa's first finish in roughly seven years signals a potential return to elite form for one of the division's most dangerous strikers
- Back-to-back wins give the 13th-ranked middleweight legitimate momentum and a case for a higher-profile matchup
- Cormier's public praise draws broader attention to Costa's resurgence at a time when the middleweight division remains competitive at the top
