Paulo Costa came out of UFC 327 sounding like a man who believes his best path to a UFC title is no longer at middleweight. After stopping unbeaten Azamat Murzakanov in Miami, Costa made it clear he sees real opportunity at 205.
The result mattered on its own because Murzakanov entered the fight undefeated and because Costa was stepping into a division where he still had something to prove. Costa’s third-round stoppage of Murzakanov gave him that kind of statement win, and his post-fight comments showed exactly how he views what comes next.
“I feel good,” Costa said at the UFC 327 post-fight press conference. “I feel great, but I don’t put a lot of attention (on the finish) because my training didn’t change. The fight before this against Kopylov, man, I was knocking him out. I connected with a straight right on the chin, and he fell down. There were small details to change for me to get the knockout in the very first round.”
He is not claiming he suddenly became a different fighter overnight. He is saying the ingredients were already there, and this performance gave him the payoff.
Thank you very much Mr president @potus @donaldjtrumpjr @realdonaldtrump for the high praise words about me and the great conversation. Was a huge pleasure meeting and fight in front of your audience. GOD BLESS YOU. pic.twitter.com/YG26N4ylLk
— Paulo Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA) April 13, 2026
Paulo Costa says 205 may now be the faster road to the belt
Costa is now on a two-fight winning streak with one victory at middleweight and one at light heavyweight, and he did not hesitate when asked if he feels closer to a title shot at 205 than at 185.
“I think so. I think so,” Costa said when asked if he felt closer to a title shot at light heavyweight than middleweight. “I think I’m new blood in the division, and I think this is good. I got very good feedback at the press conference. I think people are excited to see.”
That answer is going to stick because it gets right to the point. Costa has history at middleweight, including a past title shot, but the movement at light heavyweight may now look more realistic. With Carlos Ulberg winning the vacant light heavyweight title at UFC 327, there is room for fresh names to push into meaningful fights fast.
Costa also said he is not locked into one division just for the sake of identity.
“That’s going to depend on how things end up setting up,” Costa said. “If they think I’m closer to 205 to fight for the title next, OK, so I stay.”
That is the clearest way to read his position right now. Costa is willing to chase whichever division gives him the better route to a championship opportunity. After UFC 327, light heavyweight suddenly feels like more than a temporary stop. It looks like a real option, especially after a win that forced people to take him seriously against an unbeaten opponent. If Costa’s high-profile night in Miami was supposed to test whether he belonged at 205, his own words made the answer pretty obvious.
