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Arnold Allen Favored Over Melquizael Costa at UFC 276

5/16/2026

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Summary

Allen vs Costa

Arnold Allen (featherweight) will fight Melquizael Costa (featherweight) at UFC Fight Night 276 in Las Vegas on May 16, 2026.
At the May 15 weigh-ins, Allen weighed 145 lb, a pound under the limit, while Costa weighed 145.5 lb.
DraftKings lists Allen at –148 and Costa at +124, with analysts picking an Allen unanimous-decision win.
The fight streams on Paramount+ beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Summary

Allen Exploits Costa

The fighter won MMAJunkie’s Fighter of the Year and is a vitiligo role model.
Allen guides a fighter who mixes judo trips, a black-belt BJJ choke and muay-thai kicks, pushes underhook work and a front-choke, yet logged one takedown in five years.
Analysts note Costa’s head during retreats as a flaw Allen can exploit; his 0-1 record (loss to Steve Garcia) and output in fights raise stamina doubts for bouts.

History

Historical Context

UFC 1 debuted on November 12 1993 in Denver, where Art Davie and Rorion Gracie staged an eight-fighter, $50,000-prize tournament won by Royce Gracie, birthing modern mixed-martial-arts and the Octagon. After early bans and the 2000 Unified Rules standardized the sport, the lineage reaches May 16 2026’s UFC Fight Night 276 in Las Vegas, where Arnold Allen’s judo-BJJ blend meets Melquizael Costa.

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Allen vs Costa

Arnold Allen (featherweight) will fight Melquizael Costa (featherweight) at UFC Fight Night 276 in Las Vegas on May 16, 2026.
At the May 15 weigh-ins, Allen weighed 145 lb, a pound under the limit, while Costa weighed 145.5 lb.
DraftKings lists Allen at –148 and Costa at +124, with analysts picking an Allen unanimous-decision win.
The fight streams on Paramount+ beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

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