Paulo Costa got a late finish at UFC 327, stopping Azamat Murzakanov by third-round TKO at 1:23 on April 11 in Miami.
For Costa, this was a needed result. He has spent the last few years bouncing between inactivity, missed chances, and uneven performances, so getting a stoppage matters more than just putting another win on his record. He needed something clear, and a third-round finish gave him that.
Round 1 was competitive, with Murzakanov making Costa work early instead of letting him settle into an easy rhythm. Costa had moments, but Murzakanov kept enough pressure on him to make the opening frame feel earned rather than comfortable.
Round 2 kept that same tension. Costa stayed patient and looked for cleaner openings, while Murzakanov continued to make him fight through resistance. It was the kind of middle round where the pace and damage started to matter more because both men were still trying to grab control without giving away something big.
Then the fight broke in Round 3. Costa found the opening, poured on his offense, and finished Murzakanov at 1:23 of the round. Once he had him hurt, he did not let the moment drag out.
The result also gave UFC 327 another meaningful finish on a card that kept swinging between close decisions and violent endings, including Josh Hokit’s upset win over Curtis Blaydes. Costa now leaves Miami with momentum he badly needed, while Murzakanov takes a loss that could have changed his place in the division if it had gone the other way.
Big combos, big action in RD1 😳
[ #UFC327 | LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/zhdL3rrqqt
— UFC (@ufc) April 12, 2026
Throwin’ HEAVY in RD1 👊
[ #UFC327 | LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/A7kwkwzIB0
— UFC (@ufc) April 12, 2026
WHAT A PERFORMANCE‼️@BorrachinhaMMA secures the RD3 TKO victory in stunning fashion!
[ #UFC327 | LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/XlFiMtrvyU
— UFC (@ufc) April 12, 2026
Paulo Costa finally got the kind of finish he needed
The biggest takeaway is not just that Costa won. It is how he won. He stayed with the fight, found the finish in the third round, and avoided the kind of flat ending that would have left people arguing more about what he failed to do than what he actually did.
That matters because Costa’s name still carries weight, but the division does not wait around for old hype. A stoppage win gives him something real to build from again, especially if he stays active after this.
For Murzakanov, it is a rough way to lose because he was still in the fight until the finish hit. That usually makes the result sting more. One opening, one bad stretch, and the night is gone.
