UFC Vegas 117 is set to go down this Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the META APEX, streaming live on Paramount+. Let's be honest—this card is flying under the radar for many fans. Why? Because the same night features Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano on Netflix, alongside other massive fights that easily overshadow this lineup.
Headlining the event is a Featherweight bout between Arnold Allen and Melquizael Costa. It's a solid matchup, but few will skip the Rousey-Carano blockbuster to tune in. The co-main event features Korean Superboy Doo Ho Choi taking on Daniel Santos—another exciting fight that, unfortunately, won't draw the crowds it deserves.
The main card also includes Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Juan Diaz, Modestas Bukauskas vs. Christian Edwards, Timmy Cuamba vs. Bernardo Sopaj, and Nikolay Veretennikov vs. Khaos Williams. The featured "Prelim" is Tuco Tokkos vs. Ivan Erslan, with additional undercard bouts featuring Ketlen Vieira vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti and Cody Brundage vs. Andres Petroski.
For betting fans, there's plenty of action to dive into. Let's break down the main event: Allen is in a must-win situation. A loss here could push him completely out of the Featherweight picture. He's on a rough stretch, with his only recent wins coming against Giga Chikadze and Calvin Kattar—both of whom look like shadows of their former selves. His losses include close fights with Jean Silva, Movsar Evloev, and Max Holloway. Respectable names, sure, but Allen isn't getting any younger, and hungry contenders are circling.
On the other side, Costa is riding a six-fight win streak, capped by a massive finish over Dan Ige in his last outing. His last loss came back in 2023 to Steve Garcia—no shame there. Costa has shown he belongs as the competition level rises, impressing with his creativity and potency on the feet, especially with his kicks. His grappling is also a serious threat.
Allen enters as the slight favorite, but the momentum is with Costa. Is it recency bias? Maybe. But Costa's versatility and confidence make him a compelling pick. This fight could go either way, but don't sleep on the Dalmatian.