Melquizael Costa has officially announced his move to lightweight, citing the physical toll of cutting 22 kilograms for each fight. The Brazilian had put together a six-fight winning streak at featherweight and was one step outside the top ten before making the decision to change divisions. Costa previously competed at 70 kg before his UFC debut and has experience at lightweight.
Melquizael Costa has announced he is leaving the featherweight division and moving up to lightweight, ending a productive run at 145 pounds that saw him win six consecutive fights.
Costa, 29, competes out of Chute Boxe Joao Emilio in Brazil and carries a professional record of 26-8. The southpaw stands 178 cm tall with a 180 cm reach, and over his featherweight stint he demonstrated well-rounded skills across all phases — landing 4.29 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy while also averaging 1.53 takedowns per 15 minutes. He cited the physical toll of cutting 22 kilograms ahead of each contest as the driving force behind the change, a burden that clearly became unsustainable despite the competitive results it produced.
Before arriving in the UFC, Costa had competed at 70 kilograms, giving him prior experience at the lightweight limit. That background makes the transition a return to familiar territory rather than a leap into the unknown.
Why it matters
- Costa was sitting just outside the featherweight top ten after six straight wins, meaning the division loses a rising contender
- His move adds a proven winning record and active grappling threat to the lightweight pool
- A fighter with his striking output and takedown volume figures to be an immediate factor at 155 pounds
- Divisions near the middle of the weight spectrum are among the deepest in the sport, so Costa will face a meaningful step up in competition
