Paulo Costa defeated Azamat Murzakanov by TKO with a head kick in the third round of the co-main event at UFC 327. The finish came at 1:23 of round three, ending a hard-fought light heavyweight bout.
Fight details
Event: UFC 327
Weight class: 205 lbs (light heavyweight)
Result: Paulo Costa TKO (head kick) over Azamat Murzakanov at 1:23 of Round 3
Round-by-round summary
Round 1: Costa used sharp leg kicks and mixed in body kicks while Murzakanov pressed forward. Murzakanov landed some jabs and a few body punches, and a brief stoppage occurred after Murzakanov appeared to take an eye poke. Later in the round Costa caught Murzakanov with a jab that put him off balance. Costa followed with elbows on top before Murzakanov rose and finished the round. Costa ended the frame looking confident.
Round 2: Murzakanov focused more on body work, landing several heavy shots to Costa’s midsection. Costa continued to attack the legs and body, and the two traded in the clinch and on the fence. Murzakanov briefly went to the mat and worked a choke, but Costa escaped and stood up. Murzakanov’s face showed damage from the exchanges by the end of the round.
Round 3: Costa kept up pressure and landed more leg and body strikes early. As the round progressed he repeatedly set up high kicks. A clean head kick landed and wobbed Murzakanov, who went to the canvas and the referee quickly waved off the fight. The official finish came at 1:23 of round three for a TKO via head kick.
Key moments and notes
Costa’s leg-kick game and body attacks set the tone and helped create the opening for the final head kick. Murzakanov showed strong pressure and effective body punching in the middle rounds, and he briefly worked for a choke in round two. The fight ended suddenly when Costa’s head kick connected in the third.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Paulo Costa | Win — TKO (head kick) at 1:23 of Round 3 |
| Azamat Murzakanov | Loss — TKO (head kick) at 1:23 of Round 3 |
Report: UFCcoverage
