Melquizael Costa: Always One Call Away

Melquizael Costa never strays far from his phone.

Always prepared to give Ultimate Fighting Championship matchmakers the nod when they dial his number, the Brazilian featherweight will step into the Octagon for the second time in a little more than a month when he meets Christian Rodriguez as part of the UFC on ESPN 64 undercard this Saturday at Arena CDMX in Mexico City. Costa welcomes the challenge.

“Without a doubt, this was a big surprise, but I love doing this,” he told Sherdog.com. “Thankfully, I’ve improved my nutrition and have been keeping my weight low. We’re training hard. As a matter of fact, I prefer a quick turnaround. After a fight, I only take a week off. You can always find me training, whether I’m booked or not.”

Costa—who operates out of the Chute Boxe affiliate fronted by Joao Emilio in Bauru, Brazil—found himself drifting toward a state of limbo following a knockout loss to Steve Garcia in December 2023. He was paired with Nuerdanbieke Shayilan some six months later at UFC on ESPN 58, where he needed a win to secure his spot on the UFC roster. Costa dispatched “Wolverine” with a third-round face crank and allowed himself to exhale.

“There was a lot of pressure on me, but I was well prepared,” he said. “I fought well and won. After that fight, I experienced some anxiety waiting for my new contract. I decided to take time to become a better athlete by improving my diet. I did that. I improved my mindset and refocused on my career goals.”

The Porto de Moz, Brazil, native returned to the cage on Feb. 22 and did so with perhaps his best performance to date, as he dispatched Team Alpha Male mainstay Andre Fili with a guillotine choke in the first round of their UFC Fight Night 252 confrontation. Confidence once again bloomed.

“I feel I’m just getting started,” Costa said. “I just want to keep fighting, bang it out with my opponent and get ready for the next one.”

Up next: a three-round battle with Rodriguez at 145 pounds. The Roufusport rep has compiled a 5-2 record across his seven appearances in the UFC. Rodriguez, 27, last suited up at UFC Fight Night 249, where he took a unanimous decision from the previously unbeaten Austin Bashi in January.

“There’s some hype around him,” Costa said. “He’s young, and he likes to go to war. This motivates me—to face someone who doesn’t back down. I’m happy I won’t have to chase him around to have a fight. A fight is guaranteed. He has good striking and wrestling defense. It’s hard to say how the fight will play out, but I know it will be a total war.”