Story by
Melquizael Costa backs himself to do what Max Holloway couldn’t at UFC Vegas 117
- Story by
- Melquizael Costa backs himself to do what Max Holloway couldn’t at UFC Vegas 117
Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images
Melquizael Costa isn’t just chasing a win this weekend – he wants to break new ground.
The Brazilian featherweight steps into his first UFC main event against Arnold Allen, who’s not just well-known for his skills but also for being incredibly tough to put away.
Advertisement
Despite that, Costa is confident he’ll be the one to finally do it. The main card will stream live on UFC Fight Pass starting at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT.
Melquizael Costa backs himself to knock out Arnold Allen
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Melquizael Costa believes that a standout performance at UFC Vegas 117 will put him in line for a title shot.
The 29-year-old thinks that stopping Arnold Allen, something no one has done before, will lead naturally to a final eliminator for the 145lb title.
“I believe I’m going to knock Allen out, and that’s going to catch everyone off guard because nobody has ever knocked him out,” Costa said during an exclusive interview with Bloody Elbow’s Filipe Guedes.
Advertisement
“I’ll be the first to do that. I’ve already knocked out two guys who’d never been stopped before, so I believe I’ll do the same to Allen.
“After that, there won’t be much left to say because my next fight, if it’s not straight for the belt, will likely be against Lerone Murphy.”
“That’s a fight that would put me right on the doorstep of the title. He’s ranked third, so it makes sense. But in terms of entertainment value, there are other names out there too.”
UFC Vegas 117’s timing works out well against Ronda Rousey’s comeback
Melquizael Costa’s first UFC main event comes at the same time as Ronda Rousey’s return to the sport.
Advertisement
The former bantamweight champion is coming back after a decade away to face Gina Carano, headlining Most Valuable Promotions’ debut MMA event.
The card, streaming live on Netflix, also includes big names like Francis Ngannou, Nate Diaz and Mike Perry.
Costa has explained why he sees the overlap with such a high-profile event as a positive for him.
“I think they’ve set the stage for us without even realising it,” Costa told Bloody Elbow.
“A lot of people who aren’t into fighting will tune in on Netflix, but there’ll only be one or two decent bouts, the rest will be boring.
“And when you’re in that kind of mood, it’s like watching an action film, you’re not going to want a horror film straight after.
Advertisement
“It’s the same thing. After a boring, scrappy fight, people will think, ‘Hang on, there’s another event on the other side,’ and they’ll switch over to ours.
“On top of that, our event will likely be on a lot earlier, so I think they’ve inadvertently built the audience for us. I believe the viewership for my fight will be massive, and it’s going to be a real show.”
Read more:
