Paulo Costa will fight Azamat Murzakanov in the co-main event of UFC 327 on Wednesday night, a light heavyweight bout that carries more than just a ranking test. Murzakanov is undefeated, and a win over Costa would push him to 7-0 in the UFC.
Costa, the 34-year-old former middleweight title challenger, used UFC 327 media day to say he is not at 205 pounds because he cannot make 185. He said he chose the move to light heavyweight on purpose, calling it a good opportunity and saying he can contend in both divisions at once. “I can fight in both divisions, both weight classes at the same time, and be a contender at both of them. So why not?” he said.
The remarks fit a fighter whose career has never moved in a straight line. Costa began 13-0 and then went 2-4 in his later UFC run, with wins over Roman Kopylov and Luke Rockhold and losses to Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker and Sean Strickland. He said he is enjoying 205 pounds right now, but added that he does not regret his middleweight run and can still make 185 if the situation calls for it. “But I don’t regret my sacrifice to fight at middleweight as well,” Costa said. “If I have some goal to achieve, I’m going to follow and chase and I’m going to achieve them.”
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That history matters because Costa has already lived through one difficult weight cut. In October 2021, his middleweight bout with Marvin Vettori was moved to 205 pounds during fight week after he ran into problems making weight, and he forfeited 20 percent of his purse as a penalty. This time, he says the jump is deliberate, not forced.
There is also a possible title picture hanging over the bout. Costa said the winner of the light heavyweight main event between Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg could be in position for the next title shot contender spot, and he plans to watch closely. “I think the winner of this fight can be in a very good spot,” he said. “Can be the next title shot contender.” For Costa, Saturday is about more than proving he belongs at 205 pounds again. It is about showing he still has a path, at two weights, to something bigger.
