Arnold Allen Defeats Melquizael Costa by Unanimous Decision at UFC Las Vegas 117

For the fifth time this calendar year, the UFC headed home to its own Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, which saw Suffolk-born Arnold Allen headline the Fight Night card against the No. 12-ranked featherweight Melquizael Costa.

Arnold Allen def. Melquizael Costa via UD (50-45, 50-45, 49-46)

After an early overcommitted shot failed to land from the Brazilian in the first round, Allen was able to counter, sending him down to the canvas. It proved all too much for Costa in the opening frame, as he couldn’t quite fire back with anything meaningful. Allen controlled much of the grappling with takedowns and plenty of top pressure.

In the second round, Costa evened up the scorecards, finding success with relentless leg and body kicks. Defending those kicks was not at the forefront of Allen’s mind, as he instead chose to use his boxing skills as a counter.

The third round commenced with Costa’s forehead busted open from elbow shots landed flush by Allen. Allen’s striking now seemed to be properly affecting Costa. Although he absorbed some shots throughout the round, another major left hand cracked Costa late in the frame.

Allen continued marching forward behind his jab, putting plenty of pressure on Costa in the fourth round. Allen’s shots were becoming increasingly difficult to answer, with Costa not exactly knowing what to do when he was hit with Allen’s left hand.

The fifth and final round began with the result still within reaching distance for both men. Allen repeatedly took Costa down and controlled him against the cage. Costa had little offence left as Allen closed the bout strongly with ground strikes.

Not long after, Arnold Allen’s hand was raised, adding another win to his 21-4 professional record and snapping any negative momentum after his loss to Jean Silva in January.

Doo Ho Choi def. Daniel Santos via TKO - Round 2, 4:29

Doo Ho Choi added another win to his now three-fight winning streak as he was able to dispatch Daniel Santos inside two rounds in a Fight of the Night-level performance.

The two men took it to each other over the course of two rounds, with Choi ultimately taking control. He backed Santos up to the cage before landing a crushing body shot that folded Santos to the canvas instantly and ended the fight.

Juan Diaz def. Malcolm Wellmaker via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) - Round 2, 4:08

Malcolm Wellmaker’s two knockout wins over Cameron Saaiman and Kris Moutinho respectively put the 31-year-old on the map.

However, after a shock loss to Ethyn Ewing at UFC 322, his shine took a small hit, and now losing via submission against Peruvian UFC debutant Juan Diaz does little to help matters.

The fight did not go ahead without controversy, however. With a single second left in the opening round, Diaz landed a knee strike to Wellmaker that was only centimetres away from being illegal.

Diaz secured a takedown, took Wellmaker’s back, and from there locked in a rear-naked choke to force the tap and pull off a huge upset finish.

Modestas Bukauskas def. Christian Edwards via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

With Rodolfo Bellato pulling out of the bout, this fight was contested at a 215lb catchweight, with Edwards, a former Bellator MMA fighter, making his UFC debut.

Bukauskas dictated the fight by taking the centre of the cage and landing the more impactful strikes, including a right hand in the second round that visibly rocked Edwards.

The Baltic Gladiator repeatedly found success with body kicks and counter shots whenever openings presented themselves. Edwards never managed to turn anything into damaging, sustained offence, leaving Bukauskas in charge of a decently competitive but clearly managed three-round contest.

Bernardo Sopaj def. Timothy Cuamba via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) - Round 2, 2:25

Sopaj scored in the first round with leg kicks, a stiff jab, and a well-timed takedown that allowed him to take Cuamba’s back and threaten a neck crank, which Cuamba survived to reach the second round.

After a short stoppage due to a low blow, Cuamba tried to use movement and body kicks to gain control, but the Albanian fighter turned the tide with some sharp punches. Cuamba was dropped with a heavy left hook before Sopaj unleashed ground-and-pound, took the back, and ultimately secured a rear-naked choke to finish the fight.

Khaos Williams def. Nikolay Veretennikov via TKO - Round 1, 3:31

This fight was the only one on the card to end in the first round, and it looked that way from the opening bell. Both men were giving it everything and letting their hands go.

Williams took it to Veretennikov early with a brilliant two-piece combination that had Veretennikov stumbling against the cage.

Seeing an open goal, Williams leaped at the opportunity and rained down numerous shots, which eventually brought the fight to a close.

Prelims

Some notable highlights from the prelims saw Alice Ardelean win her fight against Polyana Viana with a rare capsule lock submission, which she claimed in her post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier that she had learned on Instagram.

Tommy Gantt viciously ground-and-pounded Artur Minev in the second round to secure the victory.

Cody Brundage prevented his three-fight losing streak from extending further by picking up a second-round win over Andre Petroski.

UFC Las Vegas prelim 117 Results

Ivan Erslan def. Tuco Tokkos via Decision (29-28 x3)
Tommy Gantt def. Artur Minev via TKO - Round 2, 2:51
Ketlen Vieira def. Jacqueline Cavalcanti via Unanimous Decision (29-28 x3)
Cody Brundage def. Andre Petroski via TKO - Round 2, 0:44
Alice Ardelean def. Polyana Viana via Submission (Capsule Lock) - Round 2, 4:36
Luis Gurule def. Daniel Barez via Unanimous Decision (30-27 x3)
Nicolle Caliari def. Shauna Bannon via Submission (Head-and-Arm Choke) - Round 3, 3:08