Azamat Murzakanov reveals what must be done to ensure Paulo Costa fight happens

Azamat Murzakanov has gone public with a tongue-in-cheek take on what it will take to get Paulo Costa into the octagon when the two meet at UFC 327 on April 11, offering a lighthearted jab at his opponent's reputation for not making it to scheduled bouts.

Murzakanov, nicknamed "The Professional," carries a 16-1-0 record into the fight and sits at number 12 in the light heavyweight rankings. The 37-year-old Russian trains out of K Dojo Warrior Tribe and brings a southpaw striking game that produces 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy. He also adds a modest takedown threat, averaging 0.55 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Costa, known as "The Eraser," enters ranked 13th in the middleweight division with a 16-4-0 record. The 35-year-old Brazilian out of Team Borracha is one of the more prolific strikers in the UFC, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. His grappling output is minimal, with virtually no submission attempts on record.

Why it matters

• Murzakanov's remark plays directly on Costa's well-documented history of pulling out of or missing scheduled appearances, raising questions about whether the fight will hold together through fight week.
• A victory for Murzakanov would strengthen his case for a higher perch in the light heavyweight rankings, while a win for Costa could reinvigorate a career that has stalled in recent years.
• The matchup pits two aggressive strikers against each other, though the cross-divisional nature of Costa stepping up to light heavyweight adds an additional layer of intrigue to the contest.