Paulo Costa’s move to light heavyweight was for a specific reason.<\/p>\n
Costa (15-4 MMA, 7-4 UFC) meets Azamat Murzakanov (16-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) in a 205-pound bout at UFC 327 (Paramount+<\/a>) on April 11 from Kaseya Center in Miami.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The former UFC middleweight title challenger fought only once in 2025, when he snapped a two-fight losing skid with a win over Roman Kopylov at UFC 318<\/a>. Costa was scheduled to face Brunno Ferreira at UFC 326 but withdrew due to undisclosed reasons. So, why the sudden jump to light heavyweight?<\/p>\n “For this fight, because there was a good opportunity to fight somebody well ranked at light heavyweight,” Costa said on “The Ariel Helwani Show.”<\/a> “Middleweight was a little bit \u2013 nobody was available, so this is a good match, a good opportunity to fight a good fighter, and be working, be busy. I can make 185 anytime.”<\/p>\n Costa sees Murzakanov as a big fight, but that doesn’t mean his middleweight days are over.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n “He’s undefeated, and he’s No. 6,” Costa said of Murzakanov. “He was supposed to fight Magomed Ankalaev<\/a>, so he’s a good name. He’s the best name that was available for me right now. We don’t know. I’m just saying we can go back to 185 anytime. It’s not something I can’t make anymore. I can fight at middleweight, as well, but I just saw the opportunity, so I don’t know. Let’s see after this fight what’s going on.”<\/p>\n