Melquizael Costa is red hot.
The skyrocket to the top continued Saturday at UFC Fight Night 267 when Costa (26-7 MMA, 7-2 UFC) became the first man to stop Dan Ige (19-11 MMA, 11-10 UFC) with a spinning back kick and punches at 4:56 of Round 1. The bout took place at Toyota Center in Houston.
Costa beautifully timed a spinning kick to the face of Ige just after the 10-second clacker hit. Ige dipped right into it and shot backward on the canvas as he covered up. Costa pounced and pounded away until referee Jacob Montalvo stepped in.
SPINNIN BACK KICK RIGHT TO THE FACE 🤯@MelkCostaCauthy earns the biggest win of his career with that kick!
— UFC (@ufc) February 22, 2026
[ #UFCHouston | LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/Fks6KVlviu
Costa, 29, was MMA Junkie's 2025 Under the Radar Fighter of the Year – but perhaps under-the-radar no more. The victory was Costa's sixth victory in a row and likely sets him up for a major fight next time out. Costa even had a callout prepared as he respectfully challenged Diego Lopes to a fight – bringing up a regional debate over who has better açaí.
Ige, 34, falls to 1-4 in his most recent five outings. However, he's only lost to top featherweight talent. Other losses in the stretch include Lerone Murphy, Diego Lopes, and Patricio "Pitbull."
Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 267 results include:
- Melquizael Costa def. Dan Ige via TKO (Spinning kick) – Round 1, 4:56
- Serghei Spivac def. Ante Delija via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Jacobe Smith def. Josiah Harrell via KO (ground-and-pound) – Round 1, 2:01
- Michel Pereira def. Zach Reese via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Carlos Leal def. Chidi Njokuani via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Alibi Idiris def. Ode Osbourne via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
- Alden Coria def. Luis Gurule via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Joselyne Edwards def. Nora Cornolle via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:42
- Punahele Soriano def. Ramiz Brahimaj via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani def. Phil Rowe via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Jordan Leavitt def. Yadier del Valle via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Carli Judice def. Juliana Miller via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Houston results: Melquizael Costa spin-kick TKOs Dan Ige