Veteran contender Dan Ige looks to defend his place in the UFC featherweight rankings against Melquizael Costa. They’ll face each other in the main card of UFC Houston on Feb. 21, inside Toyota Center.
With Ige coming off a loss in his previous fight, he’ll head into the bout as the betting underdog with +185 UFC odds, while Costa, who’s on a hot five-fight win streak, is going to be the betting favorite with -225 odds.
UFC Houston: Dan Ige vs. Melquizael Costa Fight Odds
Dan Ige: +185
Melquizael Costa: -225
UFC Houston: Dan Ige vs. Melquizael Costa: Tale of the Tape
Dan IgeMelquizael CostaAge3429Height5’7”5’10”Reach71 inches71 inchesLeg Reach38 inches40.5 inchesRecord19-1025-7Fighting StyleJiu-jitsuMMAFinishing Rate63%64%
UFC Houston: Dan Ige vs. Melquizael Costa: Prediction
Because of his precise kicking game, I predict a TKO/KO win for Costa over Ige, especially since he’ll have 1.5 inch of leg reach advantage. Furthermore, his youth and explosiveness will help him land that signature kick on Ige.
Just as we saw in his previous fight in December, Costa is expected to employ a kick-heavy fight plan to take down Ige and leverage his leg reach. The Brazilian rising star does a great job of maximizing every inch of his legs to keep his opponents at bay.
Ige thrives in close-distance exchanges, particularly in the pocket, where he throws boxing combinations. But I believe Costa will land a kick on him as he closes the distance and finds his range to attack.
Dan Ige’s Recent Fight Results
Ige is a UFC veteran who has been with the promotion since 2018. In his last five fights, he has only recorded two wins over Andre Fili and Sean Woodson, and he dropped the other three to Diego Lopes, Lerone Murphy, and Patricio Pitbull.
Melquizael Costa’s Recent Fight Results
Costa was the former Predator FC champion before he was signed by the UFC in 2023. Since his promotional debut, he has only lost two matches in eight appearances inside the octagon. He’s on a five-fight win streak, as he defeated Shayilan Nuerdanbieke, Fili, Christian Rodriguez, Julian Erosa, and Morgan Charriere.
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