With the top of the UFC’s featherweight division featuring a slew of names that range from the reigning champ Alexander Volkanovski to contenders like Diego Lopes, Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy, it’s not hard to see why this talent-rich weight class can produce a ton of potential names when it comes to awarding an Under-the-Radar Fighter of the Year.
It also speaks loudly to the biases of the UFC brass and matchmakers alike that this award category is traditionally littered with lighter-weight fighters who are often (unfairly) relegated to the prelims in favor of whatever middleweight matchup Mick Maynard is tumescent for. But I digress.
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Although fighters like Pat Sabatini and Chris Duncan were under strong consideration, I found it hard to deny Melquizael Costa given his current form and winning streak.
Costa may technically have had a .500 UFC record prior to 2025, but it’s important to contextualize that both losses came to quality opposition in impromptu bookings up a division.
Thiago Moises is a former Top 15 lightweight whom Costa made his promotional debut against on short notice and Steve Garcia, who rightfully received this award last year, was a bout that was re-booked up a division and hasn’t exactly aged poorly given the tear “Mean Machine” has been on.
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But aside from reeling off an impressive run of four UFC wins in a calendar year, Costa has put together five consecutive wins in total and remains undefeated in the octagon at his natural weight class of featherweight.
Costa, at his core, has always been a scrappy submission threat who can hold his own in the striking realm thanks to his dexterous southpaw kicking game. However, since hitting his prime, Costa’s deceptive amount of experience and the adversities he’s faced, both in and out of the cage, appear to be paying serious dividends in the form of progress.
Costa is far from impervious and has no issues flirting with danger when it comes knocking, but the newly-minted Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt’s craft, particularly in closed quarters, has really shone through in recent years.
“The Dalmation” has also progressed his striking under the care of Chute Boxe Joao Emilio, demonstrating an ability to better disguise his intentions and build off of a varied kicking arsenal. This approach, of course, produced a late knockout of the year contender in what was the final UFC card of 2025.
Although Costa’s ability to both create highlights and endure in dogfights is enough to cheer for him, his personal story of dealing with the adversities he experienced with vitiligo is simultaneously heart breaking and inspiring at the same time (particularly when you consider the confidence the once-outcast comports himself with today).
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Not only does Costa fight for the same admirable reasons his contemporaries do, but the Brazilian is also looking to raise awareness on the bullying and self-isolation struggles associated with vitiligo, showing a positive story about turnaround and success.
Stories like Costa’s shouldn’t be “under the radar,” in all honesty. However, with the inescapable high-school popularity contest hierarchy that the world seemingly operates under, people like Costa often get swept under the rug in favor of more notorious and ignominious characters when it comes to any sort of spotlight – which is why I’m ultimately glad that this category exists.
Last year’s selection of Steve Garcia has aged incredibly well, so I wish nothing but the same success for Costa going forward.
Honorable mentions: Mizuki Inoue, Charles Johnson, Fares Ziam, Raoni Barcelos, Carli Judice
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This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Melquizael Costa named 2025 Under-the-Radar Fighter of the Year
