Melquizael Costa has announced he is moving up to lightweight, citing the physical toll of cutting 22 kilograms for each fight. The Brazilian previously competed at 70 kg before his UFC debut and fought his first UFC bout against Thiago Moises at lightweight before dropping to featherweight, where he put together a six-fight winning streak. He was one step outside the featherweight top ten at the time of his decision to move up.
Melquizael Costa has announced he is leaving the featherweight division and moving up to lightweight, pointing to the severe physical demands of cutting 22 kilograms ahead of each fight as the driving force behind the decision.
Costa, known as "Melk Cauthy," carries a professional record of 26-8-0 and is 29 years old. The southpaw from Brazil trains out of Chute Boxe Joao Emilio and stands five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach. His UFC journey began at lightweight, where he faced fellow Brazilian Thiago Moises in his promotional debut, before he dropped to featherweight and strung together an impressive six-fight winning streak. That run left him sitting just outside the featherweight top ten, making the timing of his departure a notable one for the 145-pound division. In the Octagon, Costa has shown active and accurate striking, averaging 4.29 significant strikes per minute at a 47 percent accuracy rate, while also contributing on the ground with 1.53 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Moises, the man Costa first faced in the UFC, holds a 19-10-0 record and continues to compete at lightweight for American Top Team. The 31-year-old orthodox fighter stands five-foot-nine with a 70-inch reach and averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, reflecting his grappling-oriented approach.
Why it matters
- Costa's six-fight featherweight winning streak means he arrives at lightweight with genuine momentum and divisional credibility.
- A 22-kilogram cut is an extraordinary physical burden, and the move could unlock a healthier, more competitive version of the fighter.
- The lightweight division gains a striker averaging over four significant strikes per minute, adding a dangerous stylistic element to an already deep weight class.
