Melquizael Costa announces move to lightweight division

Featherweight Melquizael Costa has announced his move to lightweight, citing the physical toll of extreme weight cutting. The Brazilian fighter revealed the decision on the MMA HOJE podcast, noting that cutting 22 kilograms before each fight had become unsustainable for his body. Costa's announcement follows a unanimous decision loss to top-ranked featherweight contender Arnold Allen last month, ending what had been a promising run at 145 pounds. Though Allen's technical superiority proved decisive, the loss appears to have prompted Costa's recalibration. The shift to 155 pounds offers him a chance to compete closer to his natural weight and potentially extend his career longevity in the UFC's lightweight division.