Paulo Costa shatters Azamat Murzakanov’s undefeated run. Paulo Costa came for the finish, and he got it. Under the bright lights of Miami’s Kaseya Center on April 11, 2026, the co-main event of UFC 327 didn’t just promise violence , it guaranteed it. When Azamat Murzakanov and Paulo Costa stepped into the Octagon, it felt less like a fight and more like a collision that happened.
Azamat Murzakanov had been nothing short of flawless. His recent performances backed that up in brutal fashion. In 2025, Murzakanov scored a statement first-round knockout over Aleksandar Rakić in UFC 321, announcing himself as a serious contender. That victory came shortly after another emphatic stoppage win against Brendson Ribeiro, where his precision and power were on full display. Even before that, he had taken out Alonzo Menifield via TKO in 2024.
What stood out most in Murzakanov’s run wasn’t just the wins, but how he got them. He didn’t leave fights in the hands of judges but he finished them, often early, with calculated aggression and clean striking. It was a streak that made him one of the most feared rising names at 205 pounds.
On the other side stood Paulo Costa, a fighter whose journey had been far less straightforward. Once an undefeated wrecking machine himself, Costa had faced a series of tough tests against elite competition. In July 2025, he bounced back with a much-needed unanimous decision victory over Roman Kopylov, showing discipline and control across three rounds. That win helped steady the ship after a difficult stretch. Prior to that, Costa had suffered back-to-back losses , which include a split decision defeat to Sean Strickland in mid-2024 and a clear decision loss to former champion Robert Whittaker earlier that same year. While those results highlighted inconsistency, they also showed the level Costa had been competing at. These were not easy fights, and Costa remained dangerous in every one of them.
Paulo Costa entered the octagon first, and the fight started at a fast pace. Costa landed a sharp jab that briefly rocked Azamat Murzakanov and forced him to reset. The action moved around the cage as Costa followed up with a leg kick. Murzakanov caught the kick and almost dragged Costa to the mat, but Costa defended well and stayed on his feet.
During an exchange, Costa accidentally poked Murzakanov in the right eye, forcing a brief pause in the action while Murzakanov was checked and cleared to continue. Once the fight resumed, Costa landed another solid leg kick while Murzakanov responded by pressing him against the cage for a few seconds before they separated. With about 50 seconds left in the round, Costa landed a clean punch that dropped Murzakanov to the canvas. Costa followed up with ground strikes, but Murzakanov quickly recovered, got back to his feet, and answered with his own punches as the round came to an end.
As the fight moved into the second round, Murzakanov continued to press forward aggressively, while Costa kept focusing on his body kicks. Costa looked like he was starting to slow down, which allowed Murzakanov to begin landing his dangerous left hand, a weapon that has earned him many finishes in the past. Another wild exchange saw both light heavyweights hit the floor briefly before they worked their way back to their feet. In the clinch, Costa landed a well-timed knee that connected cleanly to Murzakanov’s face. By the end of the round, Murzakanov returned to his corner with visible damage, his nose was bleeding and he had a bad cut under his eye.
The final round began with both fighters aware the fight was still up for grabs. Costa immediately increased the pressure, while Murzakanov appeared slightly compromised in movement and output. Costa began targeting the head more aggressively, mixing punches and kicks as he pushed Murzakanov backward. The Russian tried to respond, but his activity had dropped compared to the previous round. Then came the decisive moment. Costa launched a clean head kick that landed flush, instantly dropping Murzakanov to the canvas. Sensing the finish, Costa followed with heavy ground-and-pound as Murzakanov covered up without offering meaningful defense. The referee stepped in at 1:23 of Round 3, ending the fight.
Afterwards, Costa admitted he’s undecided where he’ll fight next but he made quite a statement taking out a top 10 ranked light heavyweight in Murzakanov. “I have my mindset that I can make some sacrifices,” Costa said. “I can make 185 any time. But fighting at light heavyweight, I can prove I have skills enough and perform every well. I want to bring great performances, it doesn’t matter the weight, it doesn’t matter who.”
In the end, it was not just about power or skill it was about timing. One opening was all Paulo Costa needed, and he made it count in brutal fashion, closing the fight in unforgettable style.
UFC 327 main card
Carlos Ulberg def. Jiri Prochazka via first-round KO (3:45)
Paulo Costa def. Azamat Murzakanov via third-round TKO (1:23)
Josh Hokit def. Curtis Blaydes via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Dominick Reyes def. Johnny Walker via split decision (29-28 x 2, 28-29)
Cub Swanson def. Nate Landwehr via first-round TKO (4:06)
UFC 327 Prelims
Aaron Pico def. Patricio Pitbull via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
Kevin Holland def. Randy Brown via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Mateusz Gamrot def. Esteban Ribovics via submission (arm triangle) (R2, 4:19)
Tatiana Suarez def. Loopy Godinez via submission (RNC) (R2, 2:29)
Chris Padilla vs. MarQuel Mederos ruled majority draw (28-28 x2, 29-27)
Vicente Luque def. Kelvin Gastelum via submission (D’Arce choke) (R1, 4:08)
Charles Radtke def. Francisco Prado via unanimous decision (30-26 x3)
