Murzakanov jokes about what's needed to ensure Costa shows up at UFC 327

Azamat Murzakanov took a lighthearted shot at his UFC 327 opponent Paulo Costa this week, joking about what it would take to actually get the Brazilian into the cage when the two meet on April 11. The quip was an apparent nod to Costa's well-documented history of fight cancellations and weight-cutting difficulties, and it landed well with fans already eager for the middleweight matchup.

Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," carries a 16-4-0 record and enters the bout ranked 13th in the middleweight division at 35 years old. The Brazilian out of Team Borracha is one of the more dangerous strikers in the weight class, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. Standing six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, he presents a physically imposing threat on the feet.

Murzakanov, known as "The Professional," brings a 16-1-0 record into the fight and is ranked 12th in the light heavyweight division, making this a cross-divisional step down to middleweight for the 37-year-old Russian. Fighting out of K Dojo Warrior Tribe, the southpaw stands five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach and averages 4.7 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy. He also shows a modest ground threat, averaging 0.55 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• Costa's history of late withdrawals makes any confirmation of his participation a storyline in itself
• Murzakanov is stepping down from light heavyweight, adding a divisional intrigue to the matchup
• Both fighters carry high striking output and similar accuracy, setting up a potentially explosive stand-up exchange
• A strong performance by either man could shake up the middleweight rankings ahead of bigger divisional opportunities