UFC Books Ige vs. Costa for Houston Fight Night

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has added a compelling featherweight matchup to its upcoming Fight Night event in Houston, pitting ranked veteran Dan Ige against surging prospect Melquizael Costa on February 21, 2026, at the Toyota Center.

Ige, currently No. 14 in the featherweight division, enters the bout seeking to halt a slide that has seen him win just two of his last five contests. The 34-year-old Hawaiian fighter secured a third-round knockout victory over Sean Woodson in April 2025 at UFC 314, but followed that with a unanimous decision loss to former Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull in July at UFC 318. Earlier setbacks included decisions against Diego Lopes in 2024, on short notice, and undefeated contender Lerone Murphy. Known for his aggressive style and willingness to step in on brief preparation, Ige has faced some of the division's top talents since joining the UFC via Dana White's Contender Series in 2018.

Costa, a 29-year-old Brazilian based in Sao Paulo, represents Ige's most formidable test yet for the unranked featherweight, who is riding a five-fight winning streak. After early UFC struggles, including a submission loss in his debut against Thiago Moises...