Featherweights Melquizael Costa and Shayilan Nuerdanbieke were the second fight in at Saturday’s UFC Vegas 93, with China’s Nuerdanbieke entering with exactly 50 pro fights to his name.
That experience showed early on, when the five-fight UFC vet landed a clean takedown on Costa right in the center of the octagon. Off his back, Costa wrenched on a kimura, but looked for the sub rather than using the attempt to scramble out, and it cost him, with Nuerdanbieke getting back in the driver’s seat. That was the story for much of the round, with Nuerdanbieke’s pressure impressive, and Costa unable to secure a sub off his back.
Round two started off with Nuerdanbieke taking Costa down early again. Costa scrambled up a little quicker this time, to a three-point stance. Nuerdanbieke still had a body lock and nearly climbed the back. This time when they went down, it was Costa on top. Having a much better round, he remained in control as Nuerdanbieke regained his feet, dragging his opponent down again. Only for Nuerdanbieke to reverse and get on top, forcing Costa to throw up a weak triangle attempt.
The third round saw the fight still very much up in the air; Nuerdanbieke changed levels to duck in for a takedown, and narrowly avoided getting cracked with a kick. Another takedown attempt was stuffed by Costa, who then used the blown single-leg attempt to get on top. Nuerdanbieke rolled to his knees, giving up his back, with Costa getting hooks in. Well away from the fence, he had three and a half minutes to work on a rear-naked choke. Not fully under the chin, it didn’t matter, as an exhausted Nuerdanbieke soon tapped!
With the win, Costa improves to 2-2 in the promotion.
Official Result: Melquizael Costa def. Shayilan Nuerdanbieke by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 1:50
