Paulo Costa made a strong statement in his light heavyweight debut at UFC 327 and used the moment to call out new middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev.
The finish in Miami
Costa knocked out the previously undefeated Azamat Murzakanov with a head kick in the third round of the co-main event at UFC 327. The fight took place at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, on the event night.
Murzakanov entered the fight with a 16-0 record. This was Costa’s first fight at 205 pounds. After the finish, Costa celebrated cageside and was photographed celebrating with President Donald Trump.
Costa calls out Khamzat Chimaev
In his post-fight interview, Costa turned his attention to Khamzat Chimaev. He said, “I have a lot of names, but I have beef with Chimaev. I call him ‘Gourmet Chechen’. I’d like to fight him.”
Costa said he would be open to meeting Chimaev at either middleweight (185 pounds) or light heavyweight (205 pounds). “We can do it here at light heavyweight. Whatever the UFC thinks is going to be an exciting fight,” he added.
Where Chimaev stands
Chimaev won the UFC Middleweight Championship last August at UFC 319. He beat Dricus du Plessis by unanimous decision to capture the belt. Chimaev has not fought since that victory.
He is scheduled to make his first title defense against former champion Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328 on May 9 in Newark, New Jersey. If Chimaev keeps the belt, a fight with Costa could be considered at either weight class.
What this means for Costa
Costa’s knockout of Murzakanov gives him instant credibility at light heavyweight. At the same time, he left the door open for a return to middleweight, where his rivalry with Chimaev began online.
If Chimaev defends his title, a showdown could be possible at 185 or 205 pounds. For now, Costa has shown he can make an impact at 205 and is publicly pushing for the matchup.
Quick results
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Paulo Costa | KO (head kick) in 3rd round at UFC 327 |
| Azamat Murzakanov | Loss (was 16-0 entering the fight) |
