Arnold “Almighty” Allen is no stranger to high-stakes fights, but this weekend represents a critical crossroads in his career. The British featherweight contender will headline UFC Fight Night 276 against the surging Brazilian Melquizael Costa at the UFC Meta APEX in Las Vegas.
After dropping a disappointing decision to Jean Silva in his last outing, Allen is on a mission to prove he still belongs among the top dogs of the featherweight division. Standing in his way, however, is a dangerous finisher who has quietly built momentum over time. For fans looking to catch the action, here is information about the UFC Fight Night broadcast options and fight times.
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(R-L) Melquizael Costa drops Dan Ige with a kick during a UFC Fight NightChris Unger/Zuffa LLC-GettyImages
How to Watch
UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Costa takes place on Saturday, May 16, 2026, live from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Prelims Start Time: 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT
Main Card Start Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
The event is streamed exclusively on Paramount+ in the United States.
Full Fight Card
Main Card (8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT)
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Arnold Allen vs. Melquizael Costa (Featherweight)
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Dooho Choi vs. Daniel Santos (Featherweight)
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Malcolm Wellmaker vs. Juan Diaz (Bantamweight)
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Modestas Bukauskas vs. Rodolfo Bellato (Light Heavyweight)
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Timmy Cuamba vs. Bernardo Sopaj (Bantamweight)
Preliminary Card (5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT)
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Nikolay Veretennikov vs. Khaos Williams (Welterweight)
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Tuco Tokkos vs. Ivan Erslan (Light Heavyweight)
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Trey Ogden vs. Thomas Gantt (Lightweight)
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Ketlen Vieira vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti (Women’s Bantamweight)
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Cody Brundage vs. Andre Petroski (Middleweight)
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Alice Ardelean vs. Polyana Viana (Women’s Strawweight)
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Daniel Barez vs. Luis Gurule (Flyweight)
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Shauna Bannon vs. Nicolle Caliari (Women’s Strawweight)
Main Event Breakdown
This five-round headliner pairs a technically refined English striker in Arnold Allen against Melquizael Costa, a well-rounded fighter with lopsided physical dimensions and a dangerous ground arsenal. Where Allen relies on crisp technique in closed quarters, Costa is at his best when using his lanky frame to disrupt rhythm.
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Arnold Allen
Allen operates as a pressure fighter with a tight high guard and an educated lead hand. One of his best weapons has always been the lead hook to the body, thrown sharply after forcing opponents to shell up against the fence.
The problem, recently, however, is a habit of starting too slowly. He rarely prioritizes volume in the first round, often ceding a scorecard before his offense truly activates. Against a long, kicking-heavy opponent like Costa, he cannot afford to do that.
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When he has prioritized volume, however, it has served him well. His most impressive performance to date is his first-round finish of Dan Hooker back in 2022 for UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall (via UFC on YouTube):
Allen’s footwork is more methodical than explosive. In order to create favorable conditions in the fight, he needs to cut the cage with discipline, as he will be at a 3.5-inch reach disadvantage.
His historically strong takedown defense will be tested if his weight transfer on punches leaves his hips open for reactive shots.
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Melquizael Costa
Costa presents a tricky stylistic puzzle due to his length and southpaw stance. He likes to pump the side kick to the knee and front kick to the body, maintaining a range where orthodox fighters struggle to find a home for the right hand.
Melquizael CostaJack Gorman/Getty Images
His most significant edge, however, is on the mat. Costa’s grappling is not purely positional, as he can hunt for submissions, notably the guillotine in transition.
The risk in his fight approach is a tendency to retreat straight backwards under fire rather than pivoting off and exiting at an angle. If Allen cuts the cage correctly, Costa’s escape routes shrink rapidly.
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He is also coming off a violent knockout win over Dan Ige, which should provide a confidence edge (via UFC on YouTube):
A spinning back-kick knockout like that, however, could be difficult to find against the more defensively responsible Allen.
The X-Factor
The fight likely turns on whether Costa can maintain distance with straight strikes in the early rounds. Long push kicks here are the key.
If Allen’s pressure forces Costa to fight off the back foot with his heels on the cage, however, the Brit’s compact boxing combinations and accurate shot selection are sure to accumulate damage.
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If Costa can time some reactive takedowns under Allen’s rear hand, the action shifts dramatically to a grappling affair where the Brazilian has a distinct submission upside.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on May 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the MMA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
