Paulo Costa is moving as much as light heavyweight to face the undefeated Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327 on April 11 on the Kaseya Center in Miami. Yes, you read that accurately—the previous middleweight title challenger is abandoning the 185-pound division to tackle one in every of the division’s most dangerous finishers, and truthfully, the intrigue surrounding this bout is unimaginable to disregard.
BREAKING NEWS! Acabei de apurar que Paulo Borrachinha vai subir de categoria para enfrentar o sexto do rating até 93 kg, Azamat Murzakanov, 16-0 com 13 nocautes, no UFC 327, dia 11 de abril. Surpresos? #ufc #ufc327 #mma #azamatmuzarkanov #paulocosta #pauloborrachinha pic.twitter.com/sG2qTIDY5N
— Laerte Viana (@laertevianamma) January 14, 2026
For Costa, this represents a big strategic shift after a tumultuous stretch that has tested even essentially the most resilient competitor. The Brazilian was originally slated to face Brunno Ferreira at UFC 326 but mysteriously pulled out in late December for undisclosed reasons, leaving fans wondering about his next move. Nevertheless, bouncing back from a two-fight losing streak with a choice victory over Roman Kopylov at UFC 318 in July, Costa enters this matchup with renewed momentum and a fresh approach to reignite his profession.
Vitória dominante do Paulo Borrachinha🇧🇷
Roman Kopylov não arrumou nada
— José Louis (@concatenarsim) July 20, 2025
But let’s discuss Murzakanov—because that is where things get genuinely frightening for Costa. At 16-0 with 13 knockouts, “The Skilled” has quietly established himself as one of the crucial lethal finishers in your complete light heavyweight division. His devastating power is not any gimmick; he’s KO’d or TKO’d twelve of his sixteen opponents, a finish rate that screams danger. Most recently, Murzakanov dismantled former title contender Aleksandar Rakić in the primary round at UFC 321 with a TKO, a press release victory that underscored his trajectory as a legitimate threat to the elite.
Azamat Murzakanov ÉTEINT Rakic 😱
— ARENA (@MMArena_) October 25, 2025
Ranked sixth within the UFC light heavyweight standings as of January 2026, Murzakanov maintains an unblemished record across six UFC bouts, with five of those victories coming via knockout or TKO. His striking combos are clinical, his footwork is crisp, and his ability to discover openings is sort of preternatural. For a 34-year-old Costa seeking to prove he still belongs among the many division’s best, that is an exceptionally tall order—one that would either resurrect his profession or function a reality check.
Costa’s previous flirtation with light heavyweight got here back in October 2021 at UFC Vegas 41, where he suffered a choice loss while battling weight-cutting difficulties. This time, he’s making a everlasting move, suggesting a fundamental shift in his approach. The 5’9″ Brazilian might want to leverage his underrated wrestling and grit to survive the early exchanges and avoid walking directly into Murzakanov’s devastating combos.
The storyline is compelling because Costa stays a household name—a former title challenger with the respect of fans and fighters alike—while Murzakanov represents the brand new wave of lethal contenders hungry to prove themselves. This April eleventh showdown could either cement Murzakanov’s status as a real championship threat or resurrect Costa’s title ambitions at a brand new weight class. Either way, Miami is about to witness something special.
UFC 327 Confirmed Fights (April 11, 2026 — Kaseya Center, Miami)
- Paulo Costa vs. Azamat Murzakanov (Light Heavyweight)
- Dominick Reyes vs. Johnny Walker (Light Heavyweight)
- Tatiana Suarez vs. Loopy Godinez (Women’s Strawweight)