Melquizael Costa delivered a moment of pure, jaw-dropping violence that shall be etched into UFC highlight reels for years to come back. At UFC Houston, Costa achieved what many considered inconceivable: he became the very first man to complete the notoriously durable Dan “100K” Ige. He didn’t just win; he scored a sensational first-round knockout via a wonderfully timed spinning back kick to the face that silenced the sector.
Spinnin back kick to the face!! Melquizael Costa is crazy #UFCHouston pic.twitter.com/9njCZio2Zj
— TakeruCigarra (@TakeruCigarra) February 22, 2026
Heading into the bout, the narrative was centered on Ige’s legendary toughness. Having shared the Octagon with the featherweight elite and never once being stopped by strikes, Ige was the last word litmus test for Costa. For the primary 4 minutes of the opening frame, the fight played out as a tense, high-level striking chess match. Ige pressed forward, utilizing his boxing to shut the space, while Costa used his length and dynamic movement to maintain the veteran guessing.
Because the ten-second clapper echoed through the sector, Ige lunged in with a mixture, trying to land before the ultimate bell. It was a fatal miscalculation. Costa pivoted with lightning speed, unleashing a devastating spinning back kick that landed flush on Ige’s jaw.
The impact was sickeningly audible. Ige, renowned for an iron chin that had withstood the most effective the division had to supply, immediately dropped, crashing backward to the canvas. Costa immediately pounced with follow-up shots on the bottom because the referee rushed in to wave it off. The official stoppage got here at 4:56 of the primary round.
The world erupted into a combination of shock and awe. To see Dan Ige stopped is a rarity; to see him rendered unconscious with a single strike is unprecedented.
For Dan Ige, this marks a painful milestone in an otherwise storied profession built on grit and resilience. For Melquizael Costa, it’s a star-making performance. With one spectacular strike, Costa didn’t just secure a victory; he shattered an aura of invincibility and announced himself as a terrifying threat within the featherweight division. The 145-pound rankings have officially been placed on notice.