UFC motion returned to the Meta APEX in Las Vegas for the newest UFC Combat Evening occasion in Sin Metropolis, with two featherweight bouts claiming high prizes in one other packed evening of motion.
Listed here are the ability rankings of the principle card winners for UFC Combat Evening: Allen vs. Costa.
UFC Vegas 117 Energy Rankings
1. Arnold Allen
The primary occasion featured England’s Arnold Allen, who efficiently defended his rating towards the quickly rising Melquizael Costa.
Allen placed on a dominating all-action efficiency over Costa en path to a landslide unanimous determination victory on the scorecards, and in doing so reminded everybody that he ought to nonetheless be thought-about among the finest within the division.
He might not be the most important speaking level within the division, and he could also be racking up a string of highlight-reel finishes proper now. However with regards to going on the market and beating folks, there are few guys on the earth extra succesful than Arnold Allen at 145 kilos, and large fights towards top-five opponents are positively in his future.
2. Choi Doo Ho
“Korean Superboy” returned to motion at Meta APEX, stopping the in-form Daniel Santos within the co-main occasion and delivering a fan-friendly efficiency.
Choi appears allergic to boring fights, however he overcame some early stress from Santos earlier than turning the tables on “Willy Cat” and was concerned in one other entertaining scrap this weekend.
Choi finally dropped his opponent and completed him off on the finish, incomes his twenty second profession victory and his 14th by knockout.
It’s disappointing to know that Choi has solely fought 4 instances for the reason that finish of 2019. If he have been nonetheless lively, I ponder what number of thrilling matches he would have given us over the previous 5 years. I hope he stays somewhat extra lively sooner or later – there are definitely a variety of enjoyable fights for him at featherweight.
3. Chaos Williams
There aren’t many punchers as highly effective as Chaos Williams who don MMA gloves and go pound-for-pound, however the problem for the Detroit native is that each one his opponents understand it.
Which means “The Oxfighter” has needed to up his sport and be somewhat cuter to find openings earlier than unleashing unbelievable punching energy on his opponents.
Towards Kazakhstan’s Nikolai Veretennikov, Williams confirmed his persistence earlier than displaying off his energy, biding his time earlier than touchdown a robust shot to earn a first-round TKO win.
Williams is a cutting-edge fighter and after two unsuccessful fights from 2025, he appears poised for a greater 12 months in 2026.
4. Juan Diaz
When Malcolm Wellmaker got here to the UFC’s bantamweight division, there was a variety of hype surrounding this younger Contender Collection graduate. However Saturday evening, it was one other Contender Collection fighter who stole the present.
Juan Diaz confronted Wellmaker in his UFC debut and put in an excellent efficiency, handing Wellmaker his second profession loss through rear-naked choke within the second spherical.
Diaz earned a spot within the Contender Collection with seven straight wins and defeated South Korea’s Kwon Gained-il to punch his ticket to the UFC. And on Saturday evening, the Peruvian bantamweight placed on a spectacular efficiency that jump-started his profession.
The bantamweight division appears to be getting deeper and stronger with every passing month, and Diaz’s addition is simply the newest in a string of ultra-talented prospects being added to the 135-pound division. He’s positively a participant to look at.
5. Benard Sopage
Former Combat Membership Rush champion Benardo Sopage has bounced again impressively since dropping his UFC debut to Vinicius “Rock Canine” Oliveira in 2024. Regardless of a collection of canceled bouts, the Swedish bantamweight snapped a successful streak on the large stage with a two-round victory over Timmy Cuamba.
Sopage misplaced to Oliveira through flying knee, making him a assured a part of the year-end highlights of 2024, however he returned in January 2025 and earned his first UFC win with a unanimous determination win over Ricky Turcios.
After one other 12 months off, Sopage returned in higher kind and delivered the ultimate blow to Cuamba with a rear-naked choke, enhancing his file to 13 wins and three losses. There’s additionally a great probability he’ll be on the European card later this 12 months. And if he does, he’ll accomplish that buoyed by the successful streak.
6. The standard Bukauskas
Modestas Bukauskas has needed to navigate a tough path in his profession, and even now that he is again within the UFC for a second stint, issues have not all the time been plain crusing.
“The Baltic Gladiator” is 7-2 since returning to the UFC, along with his most up-to-date victory coming this weekend, nevertheless it hasn’t been simple for him.
Bukauskas was set to face Rodolfo Verrato, however when the Brazilian was faraway from the cardboard early in combat week, the UFC shortly moved to draft a alternative, with former Bellator mild heavyweight contender Christian Edwards becoming a member of the combat in his UFC debut. That meant Bukauskas needed to take care of a unique opponent, with a very completely different preventing model and with nothing to lose. In brief, it was a nightmarish mission, however Bukauskas adjusted properly and carried out properly sufficient to earn a break up determination verdict after three rounds of competitors.
Here is hoping Bukauskas has a smoother path to his subsequent combat and an opportunity to actually shine. He has been excellent since his return, and the prospect to attain an enormous end on the spotlight reel towards his subsequent notable opponent could be excellent for him.
