UFC 329’s Alessandro Costa seeks 3rd knockout in 99 days for ‘big year’ and Noche UFC slot

Brazilian flyweight Alessandro Costa is making a statement with his rapid-fire approach to building momentum at UFC 329. The 30-year-old scored consecutive knockout victories in April and June—over Stewart Nicoll and Matt Schnell respectively—and is now stepping in on short notice to face Cody Durden in a 125-pound preliminary bout at the Max Holloway vs. Conor McGregor International Fight Week card in Las Vegas.

All four of Costa's UFC wins have come by knockout, with bonuses awarded in all but one. His willingness to stay sharp and avoid prolonged recovery time enabled him to accept the Durden fight after a quick finish against Schnell left him unscathed—he absorbed only eight significant strikes that night. Costa views 2024 as a breakout year and aims to secure four or possibly five fights by year's end.

Durden, a wrestler and striker with an unpredictable style, presents a familiar challenge. Costa acknowledged Durden's tendency to transition quickly from striking into takedown attempts, but expressed confidence in his ability to impose his game and deploy his jiu-jitsu, which he has not yet showcased in the UFC. Costa has long coveted the matchup and now gets his chance, replacing Ode Osbourne on the card.

Looking ahead, Costa—who lives in Mexico—has expressed interest in competing at the upcoming Noche UFC event in September and already has potential opponents in mind should he defeat Durden. He named Tim Elliott and Amir Albazi (a rematch from his UFC debut fought on short notice) as targets, believing a third consecutive win would justify a call-out of a ranked contender.