Paulo Costa was in rare form at the UFC 327 pre-fight press conference as he repeatedly took aim at his opponent, Azamat Murzakanov, and revealed he doesn’t care much for anybody from Russia.
As he moves up to the light heavyweight division for the co-main event on Saturday, Costa believes he got that slot for only one reason — and that’s sending Murzakanov to the shadow realm. Originally, Costa and Murzakanov were only on the main card, but they got the bump up after the flyweight title fight between Joshua Van and Tatsuro Taira was moved to UFC 328 in May.
“Look, I am in the co-main event for one reason: I am going to f*ck [up] this fat Russian on Saturday,” Costa shouted. “I’m going to finish him very badly. He knows that. Look at him. He’s nervous. He’s shy, and I’m going to expose him Saturday.
“This is no time to bring boring fights. This is the Paramount era, CBS live. I’m going to come here to bring the show up.”
Almost any time a question was presented to Murzakanov during the press conference, Costa interjected and started unloading on him again, although with the language barrier between them, it’s unknown how much the undefeated Russian actually understood him.
That didn’t stop Costa from repeatedly blasting him, which included numerous insults that involved calling Murzakanov ‘fat.’
“He has nothing to say,” Costa boasted. “He has zero to say. Nothing. Shut the f*ck up. You’ve got nothing. Saturday, I’m going to f*ck your fat ass up.”
Considering how animated Costa was getting anytime he picked up his microphone, it was understandable why he was asked about his overwhelming aggression towards Murzakanov.
But Costa downplayed his fiery attitude, and instead, unleashed on all fighters from Russia after beating Roman Kopylov in his last fight with hopes that he would finally get to settle the score against another Russian in his next appearance after UFC 327.
“I am so cool right now,” Costa said. “I have Latin blood in my veins. I represent Latin America and not this Russian. You know, I hate these f*cking Russians. This is the second in a row that I’m going to put on my record.
“Dana [White], maybe the third one, [Khamzat] Chimaev, I want him next after I beat this fat guy.”
For his part, Murzakanov mostly just smiled and laughed at everything Costa was saying, although he found it difficult to say much of anything without the Brazilian interrupting him.
He may not have to say much at all anyway because Murzakanov has done all his talking in the octagon with a perfect 6-0 record thus far in the UFC, including five knockout wins along the way.
Murzaknov promises the sixth is coming on Saturday with plans to flatten Costa in the UFC 327 co-main event.
“On Saturday, I’m going to teach him some manners,” Murzakanov said. “He’s nervous, that’s why he’s aggressive. Don’t be nervous. Everything will end quickly.”
Read the full article here
