Arnold Allen Defeats Melquizael Costa at UFC Vegas 117

Arnold Allen reasserted his position in the UFC featherweight division with a unanimous decision victory over Melquizael Costa in the main event of UFC Vegas 117 on Saturday. The event took place at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas.

The seventh-ranked Allen controlled the five-round contest, utilizing a combination of sharp striking and effective wrestling to defeat the twelfth-ranked Costa. Official judges' scores were 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46 in Allen's favor. The win marked Allen's first in the promotion since July 2024 and snapped Costa's six-fight winning streak.

Allen established his dominance early, scoring a first-round knockdown and maintaining pressure throughout the fight. He was particularly effective in the third round, landing 44 significant strikes to Costa's 23. Allen also executed a perfect seven takedowns, using his grappling control to neutralize Costa's offense and secure rounds on the scorecards. Costa showed resilience, fighting effectively in the fourth round and landing several solid leg kicks, but was unable to overcome Allen's consistent pace and well-rounded attack.

In his first public remarks since the loss, Costa acknowledged the defeat on social...