Costa (25-7) entered the fight on a five-fight win streak, including three finishes. A win over the #14 ranked Ige could very well have given the Brazilian a spot in the rankings as soon as next week.
Entering the first round, Ige wasted no time, quickly finding the body lock in the opening minute and securing a takedown. Although it didn’t last long, they got back to their feet and right back into the clinch, where Costa was able to land sharp knees.
When he returned to the center of the Octagon, it was clear that Costa was discovering his striking range in devastating fashion, gaining confidence with every punch he threw. Ige, a little hesitant as he tried to make his way to the boxing range, caught a nasty front kick to the chin from Costa, and in that moment you could see ‘The Dalmatian’s’ confidence rise.
Ige was still very much in the fight, applying pressure and doing his best to back Costa against the cage. It didn’t take long for Costa to land an accurate, beautifully placed spinning back kick to Dan Ige’s chin, becoming the first fighter to ever hold the No. 14 featherweight ranking.
Costa made sure to give Ige the flowers he deserved, calling him a “legend” of the game. Costa leaves UFC Houston on a six-fight winning streak, and you can definitely expect to see him ranked Monday morning.
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