UFC Fight Night: Costa Edges Murzakanov In Thrilling Main Event
UFC Fight Night: Costa Edges Murzakanov In Thrilling Main Event...
Paulo Costa narrowly defeated Azamat Murzakanov in a bloody three-round war at UFC Fight Night on Saturday, April 12, reigniting discussions about the middleweight division's future. The closely contested bout headlined the Las Vegas event, trending across U.S. sports platforms as fans debated the controversial judges' decision.
Costa (14-3) survived Murzakanov's relentless pressure to win via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) at the UFC Apex. The Brazilian's leg kicks and clinch work offset Murzakanov's (13-1) explosive striking in a fight that left both men visibly battered. ESPN reported a 17% spike in Google searches for "Costa vs Murzakanov" by Sunday morning as MMA analysts dissected the scoring.
The victory keeps Costa in title contention after his 2023 loss to Robert Whittaker. Murzakanov, previously undefeated in the UFC, saw his six-fight win streak snapped in his first main event appearance. Nevada Athletic Commission medical suspensions released Sunday showed both fighters received 60-day mandatory rests due to facial lacerations.
Social media reactions highlighted the fight's divisive nature. Former UFC champion Daniel Cormier tweeted, "That's why we don't leave it to the judges," while fans flooded Reddit with slow-motion replays of disputed rounds. The UFC's official Instagram post of the decision garnered over 200,000 likes within 12 hours.
With middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis scheduled to defend against Israel Adesanya in June, Costa called for a title eliminator bout during his post-fight interview. UFC President Dana White told reporters backstage that the division's next steps would be decided "in the coming weeks." The event marked the promotion's third consecutive sellout at the 1,800-seat Apex venue.
Medical reports obtained by MMA Junkie confirmed Murzakanov suffered a fractured orbital bone, potentially sidelining the Russian contender for six months. Costa's team confirmed he'll undergo MRI scans Monday for a suspected knee injury sustained in the second round. The Nevada commission withheld 20% of both fighters' purses pending medical clearance.
Betting markets reacted swiftly, with DraftKings adjusting Costa's championship odds from +900 to +600 overnight. Murzakanov, who entered as a -150 favorite, saw his title shot odds drop from +400 to +1200. The fight's replay will air on ESPN2 during Tuesday's prime-time slot as part of the network's "UFC Reloaded" series.
