Arnold Allen ended a rough stretch and reasserted himself in the featherweight division on Saturday night at UFC Vegas 117. Facing rising contender Melquizael Costa, Allen used veteran savvy and relentless pressure to outlast the Brazilian in a full 25-minute battle.
Allen Dominates Early Exchanges
From the opening bell, Allen pressed the action. He forced Costa back against the cage and repeatedly landed his powerful left hand. The first round reached a peak when Allen dropped Costa with a spinning left hand, following up with punches and elbows while the Brazilian scrambled to recover. Costa fired back with kicks and counters, but Allen remained unshaken, maintaining forward momentum and controlling the pace.
Veteran Experience Seals the Win
As the fight moved into the championship rounds, Allen’s experience became increasingly evident. He mixed his strikes effectively and continued to find openings with his left hand, wearing Costa down. By the time the final bell rang, Allen’s control and consistency left no doubt about the outcome.
Post fight
After the fight, Allen voiced his frustration with decisions but expressed eagerness for bigger challenges. Allen seems to be eyeing a rematch with Movsar Evloev.
“F*ck these decisions, man! I’ve been f*cked in the ass so many times with these decisions, and I’m sick of it. I thought I was getting f*cked again right there. But f*ck, I’ve got some rematches. Movsar, win that title, I want your ass back, boy!”
Co-Main: Doo Ho Choi Stops Daniel Santos
In the co-main event, Doo Ho Choi ended Daniel Santos’ win streak. He overcame a difficult first round to finish his opponent in the second round with a brutal body shot knockout. The victory marks Choi’s third consecutive stoppage and reinforces his nickname, the “Korean Superboy.”
First round
The fight initially favored Santos. During the opening five minutes, he landed a flurry of explosive strikes, threatening to make it three straight wins over South Korean opponents. Choi weathered the early storm and gradually began taking control in the second round.
Finish and Pitbull Callout
As Santos started to fade, Choi seized the moment. A perfectly timed body shot landed clean, folding the veteran “Willycat” to the canvas and earning Choi another sensational knockout. Fans and analysts immediately praised the finish for its precision and impact.
After the victory, Choi didn’t hold back, calling out former Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull, ns for the next high-profile matchup in the featherweight division.
Check out Choi’s devastating knockout below.
Rest of the card:
- Juan Diaz def. Malcolm Wellmaker via submission (RNC) – Round 2, 4:08
- Modestas Bukauskas def. Christian Edwards via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Bernando Sopaj def. Timothy Cumaba via submission (RNC) – Round 2, 2:25
- Khaos Williams def. Nikolay Veretennikov via TKO – Round 1, 3:31
Prelims
- Ivan Erslan def. Tuco Tokkos via decision (29-28 x3)
- Tommy Gantt def. Artur Minev via TKO – Round 2, 2:51
- Ketlen Vieira def. Jacqueline Cavalcanti via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
- Cody Brundage def. Andre Petroski via TKO – Round 2, 0:44
- Alice Ardelean def. Pollyanna Viana via submission (capsule lock) – Round 2, 4:36
- Luis Gurule def. Daniel Barez via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
- Nicolle Caliari def. Shauna Bannon via submission (head & arm choke) – Round 3, 3:08