SEATTLE – Melquizael Costa beat Andre Fili with a first-round submission Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 252 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.
Take a look inside the fight with Costa, who now has back-to-back submission wins.
Melquizael Costa def. Andre Fili
Result: Melquizael Costa def. Andre Fili via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 4:30
Updated records: Costa (22-7 MMA, 3-2 UFC), Fili (24-12 MMA, 12-11 UFC)
Key stats: Costa gave Fili his first submission loss in nearly 10 years.
Feb 22, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Andre Fili (red gloves) fights Melquizael Costa (blue gloves) in the featherweight bout during UFC Fight Night at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Costa on the fight’s key moment
“It wasn’t quick. It took a little while. I had to put some strength in there. But you know what? All week, for the past couple days, and actually we were training that position and working on it in the locker room before the fight.”
Costa on beating someone he watched on TV as a kid
“I actually had a very emotional week thinking about stuff. It actually made me cry when I realized … that I was fighting a guy that I remember fighting Max Holloway back in a small town in Brazil back in the day, watching him on TV. I’m like, ‘I’m going to fight this guy.’ Here I am though. I actually cried.”
Feb 22, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Andre Fili (red gloves) fights Melquizael Costa (blue gloves) in the featherweight bout during UFC Fight Night at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Costa on what he wants next
“At this stage, I can’t actually be choosing or calling out opponents. I’m an employee and I want to fight, and even to fill in some holes – always be ready to fight. So if they need somebody to fill in – a month, two months, whatever, in a couple weeks – I’ll be ready for it.”
To hear more from Costa, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 252.
