Daniel Cormier gave high marks to Paulo Costa for his performance in defeating Azamat Murzakanov. The post notes that Costa's last finish came all the way back in 2018 against Uriah Hall. Additionally, the last time Costa was on a winning streak of two or more consecutive victories was in 2019. This context makes Costa's recent finish particularly significant for his career trajectory. Cormier's endorsement carries weight given his status as a former two-division UFC champion and current analyst.
Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier offered strong praise for Paulo Costa following Costa's finish of Azamat Murzakanov, calling it an impressive performance from the Brazilian middleweight.
Costa, now 35 years old and ranked 13th in the middleweight division, improved his professional record to 16-4 with the victory. Fighting out of Team Borracha, the six-foot-one orthodox striker from Brazil is one of the division's most prolific volume punchers, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 58 percent. The win over Murzakanov was notable for more than just the result — it marked Costa's first finish since he stopped Uriah Hall back in 2018, a span of nearly eight years. It also ended a stretch without back-to-back wins that dated to 2019, making the victory a genuine turning point in his career arc.
Hall, the man Costa finished in that 2018 bout, carries an 18-11 professional record and is known for his own dangerous striking, landing 3.23 significant strikes per minute across his career.
Cormier, whose endorsement carries considerable credibility in the sport, weighed in as part of his role as an analyst. The 47-year-old retired with a 22-3 record and holds championships in both the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. His assessment of Costa's performance adds mainstream visibility to a result that already signals a meaningful resurgence for the middleweight contender.
Why it matters
- Costa's first finish since 2018 suggests he may have rediscovered the finishing ability that made him a title contender
- Back-to-back wins for the first time since 2019 push him back into legitimate middleweight ranking conversations
- Cormier's public praise amplifies the narrative around Costa's career revival at 35
