Melquizel Costa headlines a UFC card for the first time this Saturday when he faces English featherweight Arnold Allen in the UFC Vegas 117 main event.
Brazil’s Costa has won six straight fights, and is coming into the Fight Night card at the Meta Apex off a finish of the always durable Dan Ige.
In a media session for UFC cameras this week, Costa gave his reaction to booking his first main event and more.
Reaction to main event offer
“My manager called me, ‘hey Melky, you’re like on vacation. Hunter [Campbell, UFC Chief Business Officer] called me right now, main event, you versus Arnold Allen. You like?’
‘Oh, it’s good. I love it. Let’s go.'”
On seeing his face on the event poster
“Incredible.”
Thoughts on Arnold Allen
“This is perfect for me. Arnold Allen has great fighting, great striking with great grappling. And he has been in the UFC a long time, but this is my moment. Sorry Allen, but I’m going to knock you out.”
How he sees the UFC Vegas 117 main event playing out
“I think it’s going to be an electrifying fight, a lot of crazy striking in the beginning. I think he’s going to try to take me down, because even strikers, when they feel my punches they decide to grapple. I can submit him in the first round too, but I think it’s going to be a knockout in the second.”
Plans for 2026
“This year, I’ll have at least three fights. One for the ranking, one to get in the mix for the belt, and one for the belt.”
The full UFC Vegas 117 media session with Melquizel Costa can be found above.
