Paulo Costa is moving to the light heavyweight division to face undefeated contender Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327 in Miami on April 11.
Paulo Costa is moving up to the light heavyweight division. He’s aiming to hand a rising contender his first defeat.
Sources have confirmed that Costa will face Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327. The event is slated for April 11 in Miami, though the UFC hasn’t officially announced it yet. Laerte Viana broke the news on Twitter.
Murzakanov boasts a flawless 16-0 record, including a 6-0 streak in the UFC. Known as “The Professional,” he’s making his first appearance in 2026 after a stellar 2025, where he stopped Aleksandar Rakic and Brendson Ribeiro in the first round. Murzakanov is currently ranked No. 8 at 205 pounds in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings.
Costa, a former UFC title challenger, is stepping up a weight class after a decision win over Roman Kopylov at UFC 318 in July. This victory ended a two-fight losing streak for Costa, who has a 2-4 record in his last six fights. His losses include bouts against Sean Strickland, Robert Whittaker, and Israel Adesanya in a title fight. Costa’s only light heavyweight fight was due to weight-cutting issues at UFC Vegas 41 in October 2021, where he lost by decision.