Melquizael Costa isn't just looking for a win this weekend—he's aiming to make history. The Brazilian featherweight steps into his first UFC main event at UFC Vegas 117 against Arnold Allen, a fighter known not only for his elite skills but also for being notoriously difficult to finish. Despite that reputation, Costa is confident he'll be the one to finally crack the code.
Come fight night, the main card streams live on UFC Fight Pass starting at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT. And Costa believes a standout performance here could catapult him straight into title contention. The 29-year-old envisions stopping Allen—something no one has ever done—as the perfect springboard toward a final eliminator for the 145-pound belt.
"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 in an exclusive interview with Bloody Elbow's Filipe Guedes. "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."
Costa's confidence isn't just talk. He's already proven he can deliver on big promises. And if he gets past Allen, he sees a clear path forward: "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."
Interestingly, Costa's first UFC main event coincides with Ronda Rousey's return to combat sports after a decade away. The former bantamweight champion headlines Most Valuable Promotions' debut MMA event against Gina Carano, streaming live on Netflix alongside names like Francis Ngannou, Nate Diaz, and Mike Perry. Rather than feeling overshadowed, Costa sees this as an opportunity.
"I think they've set the stage for us without even realizing 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 spotlight, all it takes is one explosive performance to steal the show."
For fans of the featherweight division, this weekend offers a chance to witness a potential changing of the guard. Whether Costa can do what Max Holloway couldn't—stop Arnold Allen—remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: he's ready to make a statement.