UFC flyweight Alessandro Costa knocked out Stewart Nichol in April and returned to the cage in June to attain a stoppage and a first-round end over Matt Schnell. He wasted no time on the sideline as he rushed again in to face Cody Darden at UFC 329.
The 125-pound bout, scheduled to happen within the prelims for Saturday’s Max Holloway vs. Conor McGregor Worldwide Struggle Week occasion in Las Vegas, was made doable as a result of “my final combat was fast and got here via with none accidents,” Costa instructed MMA Combating. The Brazilian had solely landed eight important strikes in his final match and saved his weight low in anticipation of a delay.
“Proper now, alternatives come whenever you least anticipate it,” Costa stated. “So I instructed myself that is going to be an enormous 12 months for me. That is my third sport, however this 12 months I will win and play 4 video games. If I am fortunate, I would be capable of play 5 video games. Who is aware of. I did not anticipate to play three video games so quickly, however I really feel nice. I am wholesome, injury-free, and my psychological state is in a extremely good place. “That is additionally essential. ”
Costa has wished to face Darden for some time and eventually obtained the possibility to take action at UFC 329, changing Ord Osborne. Durden hasn’t been at his finest within the UFC recently, however he just lately pulled off an enormous upset over Jaffer Filho, who had misplaced six of his final seven fights within the UFC.
“Cody is an all-or-nothing sort of fighter,” Costa stated. “He has no respect for the individuals on the market. He all the time involves combat. Generally he wins, typically he loses. He comes from a wrestling background and everybody is aware of his model. He throws strikes after which scrambles and goes for takedowns. However we come from a jiu-jitsu background. I nonetheless have the chance to indicate my jiu-jitsu in matches. “My jiu-jitsu may be very harmful, and so is my putting.” Earlier than the match with Stewart Nicol, he stated, “I believe it should be an important match, besides Cody is a bit more open and somewhat looser together with his model.”
All 4 of Costa’s UFC wins have come by knockout, with all however one approaching bonus factors, and he expects Darden to pressure a grapple at T-Cellular Enviornment.
“He is not a man who likes to face and commerce for lengthy intervals of time,” Costa stated. “He is already throwing punches in search of takedowns, however the plan is to keep away from takedowns. I am not going into this combat afraid or apprehensive about defending his wrestling. No, I am getting in there to impose my sport. I have been coaching very well, and if he succeeds in getting me a takedown, it should be very tough, however we’ll be greater than prepared.”
The 30-year-old flyweight has no plans to decelerate after UFC 329. The truth is, he has already expressed curiosity in taking part in an unannounced Noche UFC occasion in September. Costa, who lives in Mexico, attended the final Noche present in San Antonio in 2025. The cardboard featured buddy and teammate Diego Lopez in the principle occasion, however Costa misplaced to Alden Coria.
“If all the things goes in keeping with plan, I’ll positively ask to be on the cardboard,” Costa stated. “I believe the following win shall be essential as a result of it’ll give me an opportunity to name out a participant who shall be within the rankings.It will likely be my third win in a row, so I believe I’ve earned the appropriate to say, “I wish to combat this individual within the rankings.”
Costa has two names in thoughts if all goes nicely for UFC 329, one being a rematch.
“There are positively some names I wish to play in opposition to,” Costa stated. “Tim Elliott is considered one of them. I believe it will be an important matchup. I’d additionally like a rematch with Amir Albazi. I fought him in my UFC debut on simply 10 days’ discover. Quite a lot of issues occurred main as much as that combat and I misplaced, however I believe I am significantly better ready and have extra expertise now. I believe both combat shall be an important combat.”
