Melquizael Costa defeated Jarad Gordon by unanimous decision at UFC 334. The fight went the full distance, with all three judges scoring it for Costa.
Melquizael Costa added a unanimous decision to his résumé at UFC 334, getting past Jarad Gordon over the full distance with all three judges scoring the bout in his favor.
The result came on the card dated November 14, 2026, and it snaps a brief skid for the Brazilian featherweight.
Costa's recent form
Costa, 30, now owns a professional record that stood at 26-8 before this bout, and he is ranked number 12 at featherweight. Nicknamed "Melk Cauthy," the southpaw trains with Chute Boxe Joao Emilio and stands five-foot-ten with a 71-inch reach.
His most recent recorded fight before UFC 334 was a loss. On May 16, 2026, Arnold Allen beat him by unanimous decision over five rounds at UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Costa. That defeat followed two first-round knockouts in a row: Dan Ige on February 21, 2026, and Morgan Charriere on December 13, 2025. Going the distance against Gordon marks a different kind of night from the finishes that defined his previous wins.
The numbers show a fighter who works at a steady pace. Costa lands 4.29 significant strikes per minute at 47 percent accuracy, and he averages 1.53 takedown attempts and 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes, a mix that points to a well-rounded approach rather than pure striking.
Why it matters
- Costa returns to the win column after the Allen loss, restoring momentum in a crowded featherweight ranking where he sits at number 12.
- The victory is his first decision win in the span of his three most recent recorded fights before this one, and it shows he can grind out rounds as well as finish early.
- For Gordon, a full-distance loss with no judge in his corner offers little room to argue the scorecards.
Costa's next step in the division has not been announced.
Saturday, November 14, 2026
