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Costa Aims to Dethrone Allen in UFC 2026 Showdown
17 May
Summary
- Melquizael Costa headlines UFC Fight Night against Arnold Allen.
- Costa recently knocked out Dan Ige with a spinning back kick.
- Allen aims to rebound from a 1-3 skid against the rising Costa.
UFC Fight Nights in 2026 continue to serve as incubators for emerging talent, with Melquizael Costa poised to challenge the established order on Saturday. Costa headlines the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, stepping into the octagon against Arnold Allen.
Costa enters this matchup with significant momentum. In February, he delivered a spectacular knockout victory over Dan Ige, utilizing a spinning back kick. This finish was particularly remarkable as it was the first time Ige had been stopped in his previous 29 UFC fights. Costa is determined to replicate this success against Allen, another elite fighter who has never been knocked out or submitted.
Arnold Allen, who was once considered the future of the featherweight division, faces a challenging period. His undefeated UFC streak ended against former champion Max Holloway. Injuries have plagued him, and he now contends with layoffs and a recent 1-3 record. Similar to Aljamain Sterling's recent performance, Allen is expected to fight to avoid being displaced by a new generation of fighters.
The event is available for streaming on Paramount+, with preliminary broadcasts starting at 5 p.m. ET and the main card commencing at 8 p.m. ET.
