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UFC Vegas 117: Arnold Allen vs. Melquizael Costa continues on the primary card with the primary event fight between Arnold Allen and Melquizael Costa within the featherweight division on Saturday. Try our UFC odds series for our Allen-Costa prediction and pick.
Arnold Allen (20-4) enters UFC Vegas 117, navigating a transitional stretch in his profession after going 2-3 over his last five fights. He most recently dropped a call to Jean Silva at UFC 324 in January 2026, following a win over Sodiq Yusuff that briefly reignited title-contention talk. Once considered a top featherweight contender, “Almighty” now needs a press release performance to revive his title hopes as he comes into his fight this weekend against Melquizael Costa.
Melquizael Costa (26-7) is totally on fire, riding a six-fight winning streak into UFC Vegas 117. He scored a surprising first-round head kick KO over Morgan Charrière in December 2025, then followed it up with a devastating spinning back kick to ground punches finish over Dan Ige in February 2026 — putting your complete featherweight division on notice. Now ranked No. 12 at featherweight and with serious title contention momentum constructing, “The Dalmatian” comes into his fight this weekend against Arnold Allen.
UFC Vegas 117 Odds, courtesy of DraftKings.
UFC Vegas 117 Odds: Arnold Allen-Melquizael Costa Odds
Arnold Allen: -148
Melquizael Costa: +124
Over 4.5 rounds: -145
Under 4.5 rounds: +114
Why Arnold Allen Will Win
Arnold “Almighty” Allen is one of the technically polished and experienced featherweights on your complete UFC roster, and his 20-4 record represents years of high-level competition that Costa simply hasn’t been tested against yet. Experience on the elite level is a real advantage, and Allen has shared the cage with a few of the very best featherweights on the earth throughout his long UFC tenure.
Allen’s wrestling and grappling credentials are amongst the very best within the division, and if he can neutralize Costa’s dangerous striking game by taking this fight to the mat early and sometimes, “The Dalmatian’s” six-fight winning streak could come to an abrupt halt. Costa’s ending streak has come largely against opponents who allowed the fight to stay standing — Allen is sensible enough to not make that very same mistake.
A motivated Allen together with his back against the wall is a dangerous proposition for anyone on the roster. His fight IQ, clinch control, and grappling-heavy approach give him all of the tools needed to grind out a dominant decision and emphatically remind the featherweight division why he was once considered a legitimate title contender as he faces Melquizael Costa this Saturday.
Why Melquizael Costa Will Win
Melquizael “The Dalmatian” Costa enters UFC Vegas 117 as arguably essentially the most dangerous finisher in your complete featherweight division straight away, and his six-fight winning streak built on highlight-reel stoppages speaks louder than any stat line. A head kick KO followed by a spinning back kick finish over Dan Ige proves this shouldn’t be a one-dimensional striker — Costa has championship-level tools across multiple areas.
Costa’s striking speed, variety, and ending instincts are genuinely elite, and Allen has never faced anyone with quite this mixture of power, creativity, and relentless offensive output in his UFC profession. At 6.22 significant strikes per minute, “The Dalmatian” overwhelms opponents with sheer volume before landing the fight-ending shot.
Allen’s grappling-heavy approach also carries real risk against a fighter with Costa’s athleticism and scrambling ability on the mat. With momentum, ending power, and your complete featherweight division watching, a red-hot Costa has every reason to deliver one other devastating stoppage and cement his place as the subsequent featherweight title contender this Saturday night.
Final Arnold Allen-Melquizael Costa Prediction & Pick
This featherweight primary event is essentially the most anticipated bout on the UFC Vegas 117 card, pitting a seasoned, technically elite veteran against one of the explosively dangerous finishers in your complete division. The stylistic contrast is compelling — Allen’s wrestling and pressure game versus Costa’s fight-ending striking arsenal.
Expect Allen to be disciplined early, using his wrestling to pull Costa into uncomfortable grappling exchanges and take away the space needed to land his signature ending techniques. Costa will likely be patient and dangerous on the surface, trying to find the one opening that would end Allen’s night in spectacular fashion.
The pivotal moment comes when Allen’s wrestling starts to slow Costa’s rhythm — if he can control the pace and tire “The Dalmatian” out, the featherweight veteran could grind out a late-round decision. Nevertheless, Costa’s ending power and momentum make him nearly unattainable to bet against straight away.
Ultimately, Costa’s relentless striking, elite ending instincts, and championship-caliber momentum prove an excessive amount of for an Allen squad trying to find answers.
Final Arnold Allen-Melquizael Costa Prediction & Pick: Melquizael Costa (+124), Under 4.5 Rounds (+114)
UFC Vegas 117: Arnold Allen vs. Melquizael Costa continues on the primary card with the primary event fight between Arnold Allen and Melquizael Costa within the featherweight division on Saturday. Try our UFC odds series for our Allen-Costa prediction and pick. Arnold Allen (20-4) enters UFC Vegas 117, navigating a transitional stretch in his profession after going 2-3 over his last five fights.