Overview
- Brazil’s Paulo Costa stopped previously unbeaten Azamat Murzakanov at 1:23 of Round 3 on Saturday in Miami, with referee Keith Peterson waving it off after a flush head kick.
- Costa set the tone with heavy leg and body kicks, a brief pause followed an accidental eye poke, and elbows from top position opened a cut after a late first-round knockdown.
- The victory ends Murzakanov’s 16-0 start and marks a strong move for Costa at 205 pounds after a long run at middleweight.
- The result boosts Costa in a division set to crown a new champion in Jiří Procházka vs. Carlos Ulberg on the UFC 327 card.
- Post-fight, Costa said he is willing to compete at middleweight or light heavyweight and he called out Khamzat Chimaev for a potential bout at 205.