Alessandro Costa
Nono
Brazil
Third stoppage win of 2026
Costa defeated Cody Durden via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:19 of Round 2 at UFC 329 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Costa accepted this fight in late-June in place of Ode Osbourne and looked quite good as a -135 favorite despite two of the three judges awarding Durden the opening frame. Costa landed the larger blows throughout, but it was a high kick which didn't land that ended up forcing Cody to the mat and allowed Costa to get in position to clamp on the rear-naked choke that ended the fight. The 30-year-old Brazilian has certainly found his range of late, earning three straight wins via stoppage (one submission, two knockouts) dating back to this past April. He's certainly a fighter to keep an eye on moving forward at 125 pounds.
Costa accepted this fight in late-June in place of Ode Osbourne and looked quite good as a -135 favorite despite two of the three judges awarding Durden the opening frame. Costa landed the larger blows throughout, but it was a high kick which didn't land that ended up forcing Cody to the mat and allowed Costa to get in position to clamp on the rear-naked choke that ended the fight. The 30-year-old Brazilian has certainly found his range of late, earning three straight wins via stoppage (one submission, two knockouts) dating back to this past April. He's certainly a fighter to keep an eye on moving forward at 125 pounds.
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Steps in as late replacement
Costa will step in as a late replacement to face Cody Durden at UFC 329 on July 11, according to Damon Martin of MMA Fighting.
ANALYSIS
Costa is a late addition to the card following the withdrawal of Ode Osbourne, who won't be fighting Durden due to an undisclosed injury. Stepping in as a late replacement isn't something new for Costa, as he also did it in his last fight against Matt Schnell on June 6. That time, Costa agreed to replace Imanol Rodriguez (undisclosed) eight days before the fight and produced a first-round TKO. Costa is 4-3 at the UFC level, and six of those fights have ended via knockout.
Costa is a late addition to the card following the withdrawal of Ode Osbourne, who won't be fighting Durden due to an undisclosed injury. Stepping in as a late replacement isn't something new for Costa, as he also did it in his last fight against Matt Schnell on June 6. That time, Costa agreed to replace Imanol Rodriguez (undisclosed) eight days before the fight and produced a first-round TKO. Costa is 4-3 at the UFC level, and six of those fights have ended via knockout.
Dominates in late-notice situation
Costa defeated Matt Schnell via TKO (punches) at 2:32 of Round 2 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Costa agreed to replace Imanol Rodriguez (undisclosed) here a little over a week ago and responded with a dominant effort as a -440 favorite. After a couple minutes of feeling each other out, Costa dropped Schnell with a right hand. He eventually ended up in a dominant position and fired off about a dozen follow-up shots to the side of his opponent's head, forcing referee Herb Dean to step in. It seemed like a good stoppage despite Schnell's protests. Costa, who turned 30 years of age in January, has turned into must-see TV, win or lose. He's 4-3 in the UFC, with six of the fights ending via knockout.
Costa agreed to replace Imanol Rodriguez (undisclosed) here a little over a week ago and responded with a dominant effort as a -440 favorite. After a couple minutes of feeling each other out, Costa dropped Schnell with a right hand. He eventually ended up in a dominant position and fired off about a dozen follow-up shots to the side of his opponent's head, forcing referee Herb Dean to step in. It seemed like a good stoppage despite Schnell's protests. Costa, who turned 30 years of age in January, has turned into must-see TV, win or lose. He's 4-3 in the UFC, with six of the fights ending via knockout.
Steps in as late replacement
Costa will replaceImanol Rodriguez (undisclosed) and will face Matt Schnell at UFC Vegas 118 on June 6.
ANALYSIS
Rodriguez was removed from the card due to injury, so Costa will step in as a late replacement. Due to the proximity between the announcement and the fight itself, this bout will now take place at a catchweight of 130 pounds. Costa owns a 3-3 record at the UFC level while alternating wins and losses. He's yet to record consecutive wins with the promotion, but his most recent fight was a KO win over Stewart Nicoll on April 4.
Rodriguez was removed from the card due to injury, so Costa will step in as a late replacement. Due to the proximity between the announcement and the fight itself, this bout will now take place at a catchweight of 130 pounds. Costa owns a 3-3 record at the UFC level while alternating wins and losses. He's yet to record consecutive wins with the promotion, but his most recent fight was a KO win over Stewart Nicoll on April 4.
Gets right back in win column
Costa defeated Stewart Nicoll via KO (punch) at 4:56 of Round 2 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Costa badly needed a bounce-back effort on the heels of a knockout loss to Alden Coria as a -350 favorite last September, and he got it. While the striking numbers between he and Nicoll were nearly identical, the most damaging shots came from the Costa side. He mixed in a pair of takedowns and closed the show with a vicious body shot with just a handful of seconds left in Round 2. It would go on to earn him a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus. The Brazilian's next challenge will be to string together back victories. He's alternated wins and losses in his first six UFC fights.
Costa badly needed a bounce-back effort on the heels of a knockout loss to Alden Coria as a -350 favorite last September, and he got it. While the striking numbers between he and Nicoll were nearly identical, the most damaging shots came from the Costa side. He mixed in a pair of takedowns and closed the show with a vicious body shot with just a handful of seconds left in Round 2. It would go on to earn him a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus. The Brazilian's next challenge will be to string together back victories. He's alternated wins and losses in his first six UFC fights.
Next fight in Vegas
Costa will take on Stewart Nicoll in a flyweight matchup at UFC Vegas 114 on April 4, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Costa has alternated wins and losses in five fights since entering the UFC in 2022, and he's coming off a stoppage loss to Alden Coria last September. He now faces an opponent in Nicoll who is in search of his first UFC victory. Nicoll will bring a high-volume wrestling attack to the table, but Costa defends the takedown at a solid 83 percent clip.
Costa has alternated wins and losses in five fights since entering the UFC in 2022, and he's coming off a stoppage loss to Alden Coria last September. He now faces an opponent in Nicoll who is in search of his first UFC victory. Nicoll will bring a high-volume wrestling attack to the table, but Costa defends the takedown at a solid 83 percent clip.