Paulo Costa announced plans to compete in both the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions. The Brazilian stated he intends not just to fight in both weight classes, but to be a title contender in each. Costa clarified that his move to light heavyweight is not because he cannot make middleweight, but rather because he received a good opportunity at 205 pounds. He emphasized that everything is planned and strategic. Costa is currently scheduled to face Azamat Murzakanov at light heavyweight at UFC 327. His ambition is to maintain elite status across two divisions simultaneously, which would be a challenging feat.
Paulo Costa has outlined an ambitious dual-division plan, announcing intentions to compete and contend for titles at both middleweight and light heavyweight simultaneously, with his first step at 205 pounds arriving at UFC 327 on April 11.
The Brazilian slugger, nicknamed "The Eraser," carries a 16-4-0 record and is currently ranked thirteenth in the middleweight division. Costa is 35 years old and trains out of Team Borracha. Standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, he is a natural fit for the light heavyweight class physically, though he was clear that the move upward is not driven by difficulty making the middleweight limit. Instead, he described the opportunity at 205 pounds as a good one and framed the entire venture as deliberate and strategic. His striking numbers underline why opponents at any weight class take him seriously — he lands an imposing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate, making him one of the more efficient power punchers on the roster.
At UFC 327, Costa is scheduled to face Azamat Murzakanov in his light heavyweight debut, a bout that will serve as the opening statement of this two-division campaign.
Why it matters
- Costa remains ranked at middleweight, meaning a strong run at 205 pounds would not necessarily cost him his standing in his home division.
- Competing as a genuine title contender across two weight classes at the same time is an extraordinarily rare feat in UFC history.
- Murzakanov represents a credible first test at light heavyweight, and the result will shape how seriously the 205-pound division takes Costa's contender claims.
- A successful campaign could pressure both divisional title pictures simultaneously, complicating matchmaking at the top of each weight class.
Saturday, April 11, 2026
