Alessandro Costa

Alessandro Costa is a 30-year-old Brazilian flyweight from Manaus who spent his childhood in capoeira and jiu-jitsu before chasing a fighting career in Mexico at 19. After dominating regional Mexican promotions and winning the LUX Fight League title, he joined the UFC in December 2022 as a prospect with high finishing credentials. His early UFC run was rocky - losses to Amir Albazi and Steve Erceg on decisions - but Costa regrouped and entered 2023-24 as a different fighter, notching violent finishes over Jimmy Flick and Kevin Borjas that earned consecutive Performance of the Night bonuses. The momentum came to an abrupt halt in September 2025 when a horrific foot injury (his pinky toe caught in the fence) left him unable to impose his game against Alden Coria, and a third-round knockout sideline him for over 14 months.

Costa returned in April 2026 with a statement victory: a perfectly placed liver shot to finish Stewart Nicoll in the second round, earning another $100K bonus. Two months later, in June 2026, he demonstrated the injury was behind him by stopping Matt Schnell in the first round. His finishing instinct remains elite - he owns seven UFC knockouts, six submissions (including four armbars), and nine first-round finishes, five of which came in under a minute. At 3.86 significant strikes per minute, he's a relentless pressure striker who operates primarily from standing but mixes in clinch work and grappling.

What sets Costa apart beyond his violence is his authenticity. He runs a jiu-jitsu academy with his friend Diego Lopes and has used every bonus to lift his family - most recently buying his parents a house. He does not shy away from hard truths: after the Coria loss, he admitted the decision to fight through the foot injury was not optimal, but reframed it as a lesson rather than regret. Fans and observers recognize in Costa a fighter who sees the octagon as a path to purpose, not just a paycheck. His 11-of-last-14 record and recent finishing streak suggest the elite 125-pound ranks have not seen the best version of Costa yet.