TLDR
- Dan Ige faces Melquizael Costa at UFC Fight Night Houston on February 21, 2026
- Costa is ranked #14 in the UFC featherweight division, while Ige sits at #17
- Betting odds favor Costa at -220, making Ige a +170 underdog
- Costa brings a five-fight winning streak into the bout, while Ige has lost three of his last five
- The Tapology community heavily favors Costa, with 84% predicting his victory
Sources: sports.betmgm.com | tapology.com | sofascore.com
Dan Ige will step into the octagon at UFC Fight Night Houston on February 21, 2026, facing a tough test against Brazilian fighter Melquizael Costa. The featherweight bout takes place at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, and will air on Paramount+.
Costa enters the fight as a heavy favorite at -220, while Ige comes in as the underdog at +170. The odds reflect the current form of both fighters heading into this ranked matchup.
Dan Ige 🇺🇸 vs Melquizael Costa 🇧🇷
💎 – I’m loving the run Costa is on and I’m not turning my back on him now! Dan is durable and is a hard hitter, it’s a real test for Costa but I’ll admit I’m bias, I think his striking set has more depth and he can use it to his advantage pic.twitter.com/ygPrXwwoDd
— Euro Chris 🤛 💎 (@Eurochris1738) February 16, 2026
Tale of Two Fighters on Different Paths
The 29-year-old Costa from Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil, brings an impressive 25-7 professional record into the bout. He currently holds the #14 ranking in the UFC featherweight division and has won his last five consecutive fights.
Ige, 34, from Haleiwa, Hawaii, stands at #17 in the same division with a 19-10 professional record. The veteran fighter nicknamed “50k” has struggled recently, losing three of his last five bouts.
Costa stands 5’10” tall and trains at the prestigious Chute Boxe academy under João Emilio. Ige measures 5’7″ and represents Xtreme Couture gym in his corner.
Both fighters share the same reach at 71 inches, which could make for an interesting striking battle. They weighed in at similar weights for their recent bouts, with Ige at 145.0 pounds and Costa at 145.5 pounds.
Community Predictions Favor Brazilian Fighter
The MMA community on Tapology has made its prediction clear. Out of 3,275 picks, 84% of fans expect Costa to win the fight, while only 16% believe Ige can pull off the upset.
The fight will be part of the main card at UFC Fight Night, serving as the 12th bout on a 14-fight card. The event is headlined by Sean Strickland versus Anthony Hernandez in the middleweight division.
This featherweight matchup could have ranking implications for both fighters. A win for Costa would continue his climb up the division, while a victory for Ige would help him reverse his recent losing trend.
The bout represents a critical moment for both fighters’ careers. Costa looks to build on his momentum and potentially break into the top ten rankings with another win.
Ige faces pressure to prove he still belongs among the division’s elite fighters. At 34 years old, time may be running short for the Hawaiian to make another run at contention.
The fight is scheduled to take place at 5:00 PM ET on Saturday, February 21, 2026. It will be contested at the standard featherweight limit of 145 pounds inside the octagon at the Toyota Center.
