TLDR
- Melquizael Costa knocked out Dan Ige with a spinning back kick at 4:50 of round one at UFC Houston
- Costa became the first fighter ever to finish Ige inside the UFC octagon
- The Brazilian extended his win streak to six fights and is expected to enter the UFC rankings
- Costa started 1-2 in the UFC as a lightweight before dropping to featherweight and going undefeated
- Costa called out Diego Lopes but may face Patricio Pitbull or other mid-ranked opponents next
Sources: cagesidepress.com | empiresportsmedia.com
Melquizael Costa made history at UFC Houston on Saturday night with a devastating spinning back kick knockout of Dan Ige. The finish came with just ten seconds remaining in the first round.
Costa became the first fighter to ever stop Ige inside the octagon. The victory extended the Brazilian’s win streak to six fights.
Ige entered the bout ranked 14th in the featherweight division with a record of 19-10. He was coming off a tough decision loss to Patricio Pitbull at UFC 318 last year.
Costa came into the fight with a 25-7 record and was riding a five-fight win streak. Three of those victories came by way of finish.
How the Fight Unfolded
Ige started strong in the opening round, securing a takedown within the first minute. The two fighters quickly returned to their feet and moved into the clinch, where Costa landed sharp knee strikes.
Once back in the center of the octagon, Costa began finding his range with kicks. He landed a front kick to Ige’s chin that clearly boosted his confidence.
Ige continued to apply pressure and tried to back Costa against the cage. But Costa remained composed and waited for his opportunity.
The Brazilian then unleashed a perfectly placed spinning back kick that landed flush on Ige’s jaw. Ige went down, and Costa followed up with strikes before the referee stopped the fight.
The official time was 4:50 of the first round. Costa won by TKO.
What Costa Said After the Win
Costa showed respect to his opponent after the fight. He called Ige a “legend” of the sport.
The Brazilian is expected to enter the UFC rankings when they are updated. Costa could appear in the top fifteen as early as Monday morning.
Costa joined the UFC from LFA in 2023 as a lightweight fighter. He struggled in his first three fights, going just 1-2.
He then made the decision to drop to featherweight. Since moving to 145 pounds, Costa has been undefeated.
After Saturday’s victory, Costa called out Diego Lopes for his next fight. However, experts believe that matchup might be too big of a jump in competition.
Some suggest Costa should face Patricio Pitbull next, who is ranked 12th in the division. Pitbull defeated Ige in his last fight.
Another option could be the winner of the upcoming Kevin Vallejos versus Josh Emmett fight. However, that winner might seek a higher-ranked opponent.
Costa now holds a record of 26-7 overall. His six-fight win streak in the featherweight division has him positioned as a rising contender.
Ige drops to 19-11 in his career. The veteran had never been finished in the UFC before Saturday night despite facing top competition throughout his career.
