LAS VEGAS – Dan Ige is not surprised to draw Melquizael Costa next.
Ige (19-10 MMA, 11-9 UFC) takes on the rising featherweight Costa (25-7 MMA, 6-2 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 267 on Feb. 21 at Toyota Center in Houston.
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Costa, MMA Junkie’s 2025 Under-the-Radar Fighter of the Year, had a banner year when scored four wins capped off with a head kick knockout of Morgan Charriere at at UFC on ESPN 73 in December.
“I had my eyes on him for a while,” Ige told MMA Junkie of Costa. “I think he’s called me out a couple of times – and timing. Fights are all timing and who’s available. He was definitely a guy on the radar and when they called me for the fight. It was like six weeks’ notice. I’ve been training, I’ve been ready so, I was super pumped on the opportunity. I don’t really care about rankings or anything right now. I’m just trying to get back in the win column, and go from there.”
Ige has never been finished in his professional MMA career. Although he’s lost three of his past four fights, he remains ranked in the UFC’s featherweight division. However, Ige isn’t focused on any of that. He can relate to Costa’s rise, and won’t allow him to make a name off him.
“He’ll try, and I’ll try and finish him,” Ige said. “It’ll definitely be a great fight for the fans, but I think I got my number on him and he’s been looking great. I think four (or) five-fight winning streak and coming off a head kick knockout. He’s been very active (with) I think four fights last year, and I know what that’s like to have to take fight after fight after fight, and I’ve been there. Six-fight win streak and just fight after fight, and they throw you to the wolves. I’m the wolf and I’m ready to eat.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Houston: Dan Ige had his eye on Melquizael Costa for a while
