Featherweight contender Meizaeli Costa has announced he is moving up to lightweight, citing the physical toll of cutting 22 kilograms for each fight. Costa previously competed at 155 pounds before his UFC debut and later built a six-fight winning streak at featherweight. He had been on the fringe of the featherweight top ten before making the switch.
Meizaeli Costa has announced he is leaving the featherweight division behind and moving up to lightweight, pointing to the grueling physical demands of cutting 22 kilograms ahead of each contest as the driving force behind the decision.
Costa is not a stranger to the 155-pound class, having competed there before making his UFC debut. He went on to establish himself as a featherweight contender by putting together a six-fight winning streak in the division, a run that pushed him to the edge of the top ten before he opted to make the change.
The lightweight division he is entering is one of the most competitive in all of mixed martial arts, and fighters already established there will be taking notice. Among the contenders in that weight class is Brazilian veteran Thiago Moises, a 31-year-old orthodox fighter out of American Top Team who carries a professional record of 19 wins and 10 losses. Standing five-foot-nine with a 70-inch reach, Moises brings a well-rounded game to the cage, averaging 1.31 takedowns per 15 minutes and posting 1.1 submission attempts in the same span, making him a consistent threat on the ground.
Why it matters
- Costa's move adds a proven contender-level talent to an already stacked lightweight roster.
- His prior experience at 155 pounds means he arrives with a baseline understanding of the division's demands.
- Competing at a more natural weight could unlock a more complete version of his game after years of heavy cuts.
- His arrival reshuffles the picture just below the top ten and creates new potential matchups with established lightweights.
