Arnold Allen is aiming to remind the featherweight division exactly who he is when he headlines UFC Vegas 117 against Melquizael Costa this Saturday night.
The matchup is a crucial one for both men, with the winner expected to move closer to title contention in the stacked UFC featherweight division. Despite going 1-3 in his last four fights, Arnold Allen remains confident that fans are about to see the best version of him yet.
“I think you’re going to see a career-best performance from me,” Allen said. “I’m going to come out and expect to impress.”
The British featherweight believes the fight against Costa is the perfect stylistic matchup to bring out the best in both fighters. With two aggressive southpaws sharing the cage, Allen expects an action-packed striking battle from start to finish.
“I think that’s why they made the matchup, right? We’re two aggressive southpaws,” Allen said. “He’s a finisher, I throw a lot of hands, both of us don’t really wrestle. I think he probably wrestles more than me. I’ve seen him wrestle in his fights a bit more, like trips and grappling.”
“Yeah, two good strikers, aggressive strikers. He’s a finisher. I try and punch people. Yeah, it’s going to be good.”
Arnold Allen enters UFC Vegas 117 with a 20-5 professional record and hopes to bounce back after his recent loss to Jean Silva. Before that setback, Allen earned a decision victory over Giga Chikadze following tough losses to top contenders Movsar Evloev and Max Holloway.
Meanwhile, Costa enters the fight riding serious momentum. The Brazilian featherweight has won six straight fights, with four of those victories coming by finish. Still, Allen believes his experience at the elite level will ultimately make the difference on fight night.
“It’s been a while since I’ve shown my absolute best,” Allen said. “But I feel like this is the fight where people will see it again.”
For Arnold Allen, Saturday’s main event is more than just another fight. It is an opportunity to silence doubts, reset his momentum, and prove he still belongs among the UFC featherweight elite.
