Ali Akbar Rosady
Las Vegas, Nevada – The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returned to the Meta APEX in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 15, 2026, for UFC Vegas 117, an event headlined by a pivotal featherweight encounter between the United Kingdom’s Arnold "Almighty" Allen and Brazil’s surging contender, Melquizael "The Kraken" Costa. The card, streaming live on Paramount+, promised a night of high-stakes mixed martial arts action, with fighters across multiple divisions vying for crucial victories to advance their careers.
The main event pitted two featherweights with contrasting recent trajectories against each other. Arnold Allen, a veteran of the division, entered the Octagon looking to reverse a challenging spell in his career, having dropped three of his last four bouts. His opponent, Melquizael Costa, presented a formidable challenge, arriving with a remarkable six-fight winning streak that had seen him rapidly ascend the ranks and capture significant attention from fight enthusiasts and analysts alike.
Allen, 32, from Ipswich, England, has long been considered one of the most technically sound strikers in the featherweight division. With a professional record that stood at 19 wins and 5 losses prior to this event, Allen’s career has been marked by a blend of precision striking, excellent footwork, and a deceptively strong grappling game. His early UFC career saw him amass a nine-fight winning streak, defeating notable opponents such as Dan Hooker and Calvin Kattar, which propelled him into the top echelon of the 145-pound division. However, recent losses against former champions and top contenders have placed him at a critical juncture, with many observers viewing this bout against Costa as an essential opportunity to regain momentum and solidify his standing as a legitimate title threat. Training out of Tristar Gym in Montreal and BKK Fighters in his home country, Allen’s preparation for Costa focused heavily on neutralizing his opponent’s aggressive style while capitalizing on his own refined striking techniques. Sources close to Allen’s camp indicated a renewed focus on mental fortitude and strategic game planning, aiming to deliver a performance that reflects his earlier dominant form.
Melquizael Costa, 27, fighting out of Pará, Brazil, brought a formidable 21-6 professional record into the Meta APEX. "The Kraken" has been a revelation in the featherweight division, showcasing a dynamic and relentless fighting style that combines powerful Muay Thai with opportunistic submission grappling. His current six-fight winning streak, which includes finishes over highly touted prospects, has earned him a reputation as a dangerous and unpredictable opponent. Costa’s journey to the UFC was paved through regional circuits where he consistently displayed his finishing prowess, making a strong statement upon his arrival in the premier mixed martial arts organization. This fight against a ranked opponent like Allen represented a significant step up in competition and a chance for Costa to crack the top 15 of the featherweight division, firmly establishing himself as a contender. Costa’s training regime, known for its intensity and focus on high-volume striking and submission attempts, suggested he would aim to pressure Allen from the opening bell. At the pre-fight press conference, Costa expressed confidence in his ability to withstand Allen’s technical striking and impose his will, promising an exciting and aggressive performance.
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The stylistic matchup between Allen and Costa was a significant talking point leading up to UFC Vegas 117. Allen’s composed, counter-striking approach and defensive acumen were expected to be tested by Costa’s high-pressure, offensive onslaught. Analysts predicted a chess match on the feet, with Allen looking to pick his shots and avoid exchanges in the pocket, while Costa would aim to close the distance and unleash flurries of strikes or seek takedowns to implement his ground game. The weigh-ins, held on May 15, 2026, saw both fighters make weight without issue, sharing an intense face-off that underscored the significance of their upcoming contest. The image captured at the weigh-in, showing Allen and Costa locked in a stare, served as a potent visual prelude to the main event.
In the co-main event, another compelling featherweight clash was scheduled between South Korea’s Doo Ho "The Korean Superboy" Choi and Brazil’s Daniel Santos. Choi, 33, with a professional record of 14-4-1, has been a fan-favorite for his aggressive, power-punching style, albeit with a career frequently hampered by injuries and periods of inactivity. His last few outings have been mixed, showing flashes of his former brilliance but also vulnerabilities. Choi’s dedicated fanbase eagerly awaited his return to consistent form, hoping to see the "Superboy" of old. Daniel Santos, 30, holding a record of 12-3, entered the fight looking to build on recent impressive performances. Known for his resilience and heavy hands, Santos presented a dangerous challenge for Choi, promising a high-octane affair that was unlikely to go the distance. The co-main event was seen as a crucial opportunity for both fighters to either re-establish their presence in the division or cement their rising status.
The main card, broadcast on Paramount+ starting at 8 p.m. ET, featured an array of intriguing matchups across various weight classes. Malcom Wellmaker (15-4) was slated to meet Juan Diaz (11-3) in a lightweight bout, with both fighters looking to break into the crowded top 15. Wellmaker, a grappling specialist, aimed to impose his will on the ground against Diaz, a powerful striker with a knack for highlight-reel knockouts. The light heavyweight division saw Modestas Bukauskas (16-6), known for his crisp striking, face off against Christian Edwards (9-2), an athletic prospect with significant knockout power. This matchup was anticipated to be a stand-up war, with both men eager to climb the divisional ladder.
Further down the main card, Timothy Cuamba (10-3) was scheduled to square off against Bernando Sopaj (11-2) in a bantamweight contest, a fight expected to deliver fast-paced action given both fighters’ aggressive styles. Cuamba’s well-rounded game was set to be tested by Sopaj’s relentless pressure and submission threats. The welterweight division featured Nikolay Veretennikov (11-4) against the formidable Khaos Williams (15-3). Williams, renowned for his explosive power and one-punch knockout ability, faced Veretennikov, a durable and technically sound striker known for his ability to absorb punishment and dish it out in return. This bout was widely predicted to be a contender for "Fight of the Night."
The preliminary card, which commenced earlier and also streamed on Paramount+, featured a mix of established veterans and promising newcomers aiming to make their mark. The light heavyweights opened the card with Tuco Tokkos (8-3) taking on Ivan Erslan (14-5). This bout was expected to be a grappling-heavy affair, with both fighters possessing strong wrestling backgrounds. Tommy Gantt (10-2) faced Artur Minev (9-1) in a middleweight clash, a classic striker-versus-grappler scenario.
The women’s bantamweight division showcased Ketlen Vieira (14-3) against Jacqueline Cavalcanti (8-1). Vieira, a former title challenger, sought to reassert her dominance against the rising prospect Cavalcanti, who was looking for a signature win to propel her into the rankings. In the middleweight division, Cody Brundage (9-4) was set to meet Andre Petroski (10-2), a fight that promised intense grappling exchanges and power striking from both sides. The women’s strawweight division featured Alice Ardelean (8-2) against Pollyanna Viana (13-6), a matchup between two aggressive fighters known for their willingness to engage. Daniel Barez (16-6) and Luis Gurule (7-1) were scheduled for a flyweight bout, typically a division known for its blistering pace and technical prowess.
The first official result of the evening came from the women’s strawweight division, where Nicolle Caliari (8-2) secured a submission victory over Shauna Bannon (6-2) in the third round. Caliari demonstrated her ground acumen, applying a head & arm choke at 3 minutes and 8 seconds of Round 3, forcing Bannon to tap. This win marked a significant moment for Caliari, adding another impressive finish to her record and potentially setting her up for future challenges within the division.
UFC Vegas 117 underscored the organization’s commitment to delivering consistent, high-quality mixed martial arts action. With a blend of established names and burgeoning talents, the event at the Meta APEX was poised to shape the landscape of several divisions, offering crucial outcomes that could influence future title pictures and fighter rankings. As the night unfolded, the combat sports world watched intently to see which fighters would rise to the occasion and which narratives would begin to shift.
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