Paulo Costa put on a vintage performance to take out Azamat Murzakanov in his stunning return to the light heavyweight division at UFC 327.
Without cutting the extra weight to compete at 185 pounds, Costa still looked huge on Saturday and he showcased tremendous striking acumen to hurt Murzakanov several times during the fight. Costa delivered the finishing blow after he unleashed a huge head kick that blasted the Russian and he just laid down on the ground as the referee stopped the fight at 1:23
into the third round.
“This is unbelievably good,” Costa said after his win. “Put some respect on my name! Look, I’m part of one of the best companies in the world. Look who is there, President Donald Trump and fighting in front of a great leader like this is an honor.
“I asked Mick Maynard for this fight … he said yes, I’m going to try and the next day he said ‘Paulo, we got it.’ I want to fight the best in the world. That’s why I’m here.”
Looking huge at 205 pounds, Costa was unloading some serious power with his kicks while Murzakanov was just marching forward, stalking the Brazilian across the octagon. But Murzakanov was also eating a lot of leg kicks as Costa was looking to chop down his foundation before then going to the body with a kick as well.
Costa continued to feed those kicks and then he unloaded a huge right hand that cracked Murzakanov square on the jaw. Costa smiled at him as he continued to set up his combinations before he snapped off another strike that ended with Murzakanov on his back.
As the fight moved into the second round, Murzakanov was still in heavy pursuit with Costa continuing to focus on more of those same body kicks. Costa was seemingly starting to slow down and that allowed Murzakanov to start connecting with that devastating left hand that has won him so many fights in the past.
Another wild exchange led to the light heavyweights hitting the floor momentarily before working back to the feet where Costa threw a well-timed knee that blasted Murzakanov in the face. As he went back to the corner at the end of the round, Murzakanov’s face was a mess with nose leaking blood and a bad cut under his eye.
Costa came out looking for the finish as the final round started, blasting Murzakanov with a blistering punch followed by a huge head kick. While Murzakanov was able to block the kick, his arm looked injured after the shot landed.
Costa continued hurting Murzakanov with his powerful shots and then he uncorked another massive head kick that didn’t land clean but it was still enough for the Russian to effectively just drop to the canvas as the referee rushed in to stop 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.”
