Paulo Costa reacts to Azamat Murzakanov's 'secret juice' comments ahead of UFC 327

Paulo Costa has fired back at Azamat Murzakanov after the Russian light heavyweight made a pointed remark about a so-called "secret juice" ahead of their UFC 327 bout this Saturday.

Murzakanov told media, "Soon, very soon we will show what the secret is. What people from Russia have, you will soon find out." The comment, widely interpreted as a dig at a perceived Russian training or physical advantage, drew a visible reaction from Costa, who made clear he took offense to the implication.

Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," enters UFC 327 ranked 13th in the middleweight division with a record of 16-4-0. The 35-year-old Brazilian is one of the sport's most aggressive strikers, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. Training out of Team Borracha, the six-foot-one orthodox fighter has built his reputation almost entirely on his heavy hands, posting zero submission attempts per 15 minutes across his UFC career.

Murzakanov, known as "The Professional," holds a 16-1-0 record and sits 12th in the light heavyweight rankings. The 37-year-old Russian southpaw stands five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach and fights out of K Dojo Warrior Tribe. He averages 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy, adding a modest takedown threat at 0.55 per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• Costa and Murzakanov are ranked fighters in their respective divisions, giving Saturday's fight genuine divisional relevance.
• Murzakanov's remark adds a personal edge to what was already a cross-divisional matchup with contrasting styles.
• Costa's orthodox pressure striking versus Murzakanov's southpaw stance creates a natural technical wrinkle at range.
• Any rankings movement could affect the wider light heavyweight and middleweight picture heading into the summer.