Introduction
UFC Fight Night 276: Allen vs. Costa took place on May 16, 2026 at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada (UFC Vegas 117). The featherweight main event featured No. 8-ranked Arnold Allen against No. 12-ranked Melquizael Costa, who entered on a six-fight winning streak including a spectacular spinning back kick KO of Dan Ige.
Allen delivered a masterclass in discipline and distance management, earning a dominant unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46) to halt Costa’s rise and cement his place as a top featherweight contender. Dooho Choi produced the co-main highlight with a thrilling second-round TKO of Daniel Santos (FotN $100k each). Juan Diaz announced his arrival with an impressive debut submission of Malcolm Wellmaker ($100k PoN). Alice Ardelean made UFC history with the first-ever Capsule Lock submission in the promotion’s history. Four of five main card bouts ended inside the distance.
Quick Stats
📍 Venue: Meta APEX, Las Vegas, NV | May 16, 2026 | UFC Vegas 117
✅ Result: Arnold Allen def. Melquizael Costa via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46) (Round 5, 5:00)
⭐ Notable: Allen dominant UD, halts Costa’s 6-fight streak | Choi TKO Santos R2 (FotN $100k each) | Diaz Sub Wellmaker R2 (RNC, $100k PoN, debut) | Ardelean Capsule Lock R2 — FIRST IN UFC HISTORY | Williams TKO Veretennikov R1 | Bukauskas won | Sopaj Sub Cuamba R2 | Brundage TKO R2 | 4 of 5 main card finishes
Full Results
Arnold Allen def. Melquizael Costa — Decision (Unanimous) (Round 5) | 50-45, 50-45, 49-46 | Dominant, disciplined performance | Costa’s 6-fight streak snapped
Dooho Choi def. Daniel Santos — TKO R2, 4:29 (FotN $100k each); Juan Diaz def. Malcolm Wellmaker — Sub (RNC) R2, 4:08 ($100k PoN, debut); Modestas Bukauskas won; Khaos Williams def. Nikolay Veretennikov — TKO R1; Alice Ardelean — Capsule Lock R2, 4:36 (first in UFC history); Sopaj def. Cuamba — Sub (RNC) R2; Cory Brundage — TKO R2; Ivan Erslan UD Tokkos; Rodolfo Vieira UD Cavalcanti
Legacy & Impact
Allen’s shutout of Costa was a veteran masterclass — neutralizing one of the most dangerous young featherweights in the division with pressure, distance management, and ring IQ. Choi’s thrilling co-main TKO showed the Korean Superboy still has the magic. Diaz’s debut submission was one of the best newcomer performances of 2026. And Ardelean’s Capsule Lock will live in the record books forever as a UFC first.