UFC 327 video: Paulo Costa TKOs Azamat Murzakanov, makes splash at 205

Paulo Costa made a statement in his official light heavyweight debut at UFC 327.

After once fighting for gold at middleweight, Costa (16-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) delivered arguably the best win of his octagon tenure when he took out of the previously undefeated Azamat Murzakanov (16-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) by third-round TKO in the co-main event of Saturday's card at Kaseya Center in Miami.

A big head kick sealed the deal for Costa, as Murzakanov stumbled and went down, forcing referee Keith Peterson to jump in for the TKO at the 1:23 mark of Round 3.

Costa found success early in the fight with body kicks on Murzakanov and good movement outside the punching range. Murzakanov tried to put the pressure on, but Costa was sharp and got a knockdown with less than a minute left. He then opened up a cut on the Russian with elbows on top before it returned to the feet to close the round.

Costa continued to roll into the second round. He was comfortable standing in front of Murzakanov and battering the body with kicks while working behind the jab and his other punches. Murzakanov started to answer with some body work of his own, and as the round wore he rocked the Brazilian a few times and had him slowed down and on the defensive.

It was competitive in Round 3, but then Costa's kicks started to break through. He smashed the arms of Murzakanov and then went high to complete the fight-ending sequence and get his hand raised to begin a fresh journey at 205 pounds.

"Put some respect on my name," Costa said in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 327 results:

• Paulo Costa def. Azamat Murzakanov via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 1:23
• Josh Hokit def. Curtis Blaydes via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Dominick Reyes def. Johnny Walker via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Cub Swanson def. Nate Landwehr via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:06
• Aaron Pico def. Patricio Freire via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Kevin Holland def. Randy Brown via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Mateusz Gamrot def. Esteban Ribovics via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 2, 4:19
• Tatiana Suarez def. Loopy Godinez via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:29
• MarQuel Mederos vs. Chris Padilla declared majority draw (29-27, 28-28, 28-28)
• Vicente Luque def. Kelvin Gastelum via submission (D’Arce choke) – Round 1, 4:08
• Charles Radtke def. Francisco Prado via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 327 video: Paulo Costa TKOs Azamat Murzakanov, makes splash at 205