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It is time to put some respect on Melquizael Costa’s identify within the UFC featherweight division.
Costa (26-7) recorded his sixth straight victory on Saturday at UFC Battle Night time in Houston and did so in spectacular vogue contained in the Toyota Heart by turning into the primary fighter to complete veteran Dan Ige (19-11).
The 29-year-old from Brazil scored the sixth spinning again kick knockout in UFC historical past when he caught Ige ducking all the way down to keep away from a possible punch that put him straight in line for the kick. Referee Dan Miragliotta leaped in to cease the struggle at 4:56 of Spherical 1 as Costa seemingly secured a top-15 rating at 145 kilos.
“I informed everyone this week, I simply fought a legend,” Costa stated. “Nobody has been capable of end him and I stated that I used to be going to do this. I used to be capable of do it.”
After Ige scored an early takedown, Costa shortly scrambled again to his ft and started to put on Ige down within the clinch with knees to the physique. From there, Costa showcased his full offensive bag by gorgeous Ige with a entrance kick to the face and going to the physique with a wide range of strikes that led as much as the end.
Costa prolonged his win streak that started following a second-round knockout loss to Steve Garcia in 2023. Of his six wins on his present run, 4 have come by stoppage.
After the struggle, Costa known as out a former two-time featherweight title challenger who was sitting Octagonside.
“There’s a man right here that you just all love and I like, too,” Costa stated. “Diego Lopes, let’s go at it.”
Ige, a 34-year-old native of Hawaii, suffered his fifth loss in his final seven fights.
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