UFC Fight Night 276 live results: Arnold Allen vs. Melquizael Costa
A busy stretch of events for the UFC ends this weekend before a week off as the Octagon returns to the Meta Apex in Las Vegas for UFC Fight Night 276.
The main event is a battle of ranked featherweights as Arnold Allen takes on Melquizael Costa in the five-round headliner. Allen is looking to get back into both the win column and the title picture following a loss to Jean Silva in January. Costa enters his first UFC main event riding a six-fight win streak and is coming off a big win over Dan Ige.
The co-main event is a featherweight clash pitting the exciting Doo Ho Choi against Daniel Santos. Also on the main card is a bantamweight bout between Malcolm Wellmaker and the debuting Juan Diaz; Modestas Bukauskas takes on short-notice debutant Christian Edwards in a catchweight fight; and welterweights Nikolay Veretennikov and Khaos Williams kick off the main card.
PRELIMS | 5 PM ET | 2 PM PT
> Women’s Strawweights- Shauna Bannon (7-2, 2-2 UFC) vs. Nicolle Caliari (8-4, 0-2 UFC)
Caliari comes out throwing and Caliari gets a takedown as they scramble to the mat but get up and are clinched against the fence. Caliari gets another takedown and is working inside the guard of Bannon. Caliari landing some body shots. Caliari landing more from the top and looks to stand, but Bannon recovers full guard. Caliari controls and stands and lands some punches before getting to side control. Caliari is attacking an arm and looking to set up a kimura. Caliari lets go and lands a pair of knees to the body. 10-9 Caliari.
Caliari comes out landing a pair of leg kicks. Caliari pressing forward and grabs a leg, but lets go along the fence. Caliari has the leg and grabs the back against the fence. Caliari scores a takedown and is in the half-guard. Caliari working from inside the guard and lands. They are put on their feet. Bannon throws a body kick but Caliari grabs the body. Caliari lets go and Bannon lands another body kick before Caliari looks for a takedown. Bannon reverses to the top and lands from the half-guard. Bannon lands an elbow from the top. Bannon lands some elbows from the back late. 10-9 Bannon, 19-19.
Bannon lands a leg kick then a combination ending with a front kick. Bannon with a leg kick. Caliari lands a right hand as Bannon misses a spin kick. Caliari lands a combination to the body before they clinch against the fence. They separate and Caliari lands a stiff jab. Caliari gets Bannon to the ground and lands a big elbow from the top. Caliari lands some punches and elbows from the top. Caliari looking for an arm-triangle choke. She is squeezing and gets the mount and steps over and Bannon taps! Caliari picks up the submission win.
Fight Result- Nicolle Caliari def. Shauna Bannon by submission (arm-triangle choke) at 3:08 of Round 3
> Flyweights- Daniel Barez (17-7, 1-2 UFC) vs. Luis Gurule (10-3, 0-3 UFC)
They trade leg kicks. Barez lands a right hand. Gurule pressuring and lands a big flurry but Barez is able to grab control and has the back along the fence. Gurule escapes and lands a right hand. Barez gets a takedown and takes the back. Barez looks for a choke and looks for an arm-triangle choke as Gurule reverses to the top. Gurule is looking for an anaconda choke. Barez is able to defend and they scramble to their feet. Gurule lands a few right hands. They trade leg kicks. Barez shoots for a takedown and pushes Gurule to the fence. Gurule reverses position. Gurule with some left hands as they separate. Gurule lands a right hand. They both land late. 10-9 Gurule.
They trade to start the second. Barez lands a right hand. Gurule with a leg kick as Barez comes forward. They trade leg kicks. Barez hurts Gurule with a right hand. Gurule attacks a leg, but Barez escapes and lands some punches. Gurule recovers and they trade. Barez lands a right hand. They trade right hands and Barez lands a combination. Barez landing with more volume at the moment. Gurule lands a right hand. Gurule now starting to pick up the volume as he lands a hard jab and a hard right hand. Gurule wobbles Barez with a left hand and lands some big punches. Gurule is landing against the fence and Barez is hurt. Barez clinches but Gurule grabs the back and lands a German suplex. Gurule has the back and is landing along the fence. Barez gets to his feet. They separate and Gurule lands a right hand. Gurule lands a flurry against the fence. Gurule lands a right hand and another. 10-9 Gurule, 20-18 Gurule.
They trade inside the pocket as Gurule lands a leg kick. Gurule lands a pair of right hands and lands to the body against the fence. Gurule with some uppercuts and right hands. Gurule lands a big combination as Barez looked for a takedown opening. Gurule landing with way more volume as he keeps tagging Barez with short combinations. They trade punches in close range. Gurule lands a big left hand. Gurule lands a right hand. Gurule lands a combination. Barez with a pair of right hands. Gurule with a left hand. They trade punches. Both land at the end. 10-9 Gurule, 30-27 Gurule.
Fight Result- Luis Gurule def. Daniel Barez by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> Women’s Strawweights- Alice Ardelean (11-7, 2-2 UFC) vs. Polyana Viana (13-8, 4-7 UFC)
They both land a leg kick at the same time to start. They trade more kicks. Ardelean lands a right hand before they trade leg kicks. Ardelean lands another right hand and Viana says she was poked in the eye, but it was a punch and they keep going. They trade as Ardelean comes forward. Ardelean lands some shots. Viana lands an elbow. Ardelean with a big combo and Viana is swinging back. They clinch and Viana lands an elbow. Ardelean lands a big shot and Viana goes to her knees. She gets up and they trade inside the pocket. Viana lands a body kick. Ardelean with a right hand. Viana lands a body kick. Ardelean with a combination. Ardelean landing the bigger punches. They trade late. 10-9 Ardelean.
They trade and Ardelean scores a takedown. Ardelean is controlling from the half-guard, but there isn’t a ton of action going on. Viana lands some elbows from the bottom. Ardelean remains in the full guard of Viana and lands some shots from the top. They are told to work by the referee. Ardelean lands and all of a sudden Viana yells out a verbal submission and the fight is stopped. It looks like Viana hurt her leg or knee as Viana had the body triangle around Ardelean and Ardelean used her back to squeeze Viana’s legs backward and Viana started tapping. A very unique finish.
Fight Result- Alice Ardelean def. Polyana Viana by submission (capsule lock) at 4:36 of Round 2
> Middleweights- Cody Brundage (11-9-1 1 NC, 5-8-1 1 NC UFC) vs. Andre Petroski (13-5, 8-4 UFC)
Petroski lands a leg kick. Petroski with a body shot. Brundage lands a right hand. Petroski with a body kick. Brundage lands a right hand. Petroski lands a leg kick. Petroski with a calf kick. They trade kicks and Petroski lands a knee to the body. Petroski looks for a takedown and Brundage jumps for a guillotine choke. Petroski is in side control and not in danger. Petroski steps over into the mount and lands. 10-9 Petroski.
Brundage drops Petroski with a left hook and he starts teeing off from the top. Brundage landing a lot of shots as Petroski is trying to cover up. Brundage is connecting with big punches and Petroski is taking a lot of punishment and it is all over! Brundage picks up the big finish!
Fight Result- Cody Brundage def. Andre Petroski by TKO (punches) at :44 of Round 2
> Women’s Bantamweights- #5 Ketlen Vieira (15-5, 9-5 UFC) vs. #11 Jacqueline Cavalcanti (10-1, 5-0 UFC)
Vieira lands some right hands and Cavalcanti lands a pair of leg kicks and right hands. Cavalcanti with an inside leg kick. Cavalcanti lands a leg kick and Vieira lands a right hand. They trade punches. Vieira lands a right hand. Cavalcanti with an inside leg kick. Cavalcanti lands a combination. Cavalcanti with an inside leg kick. There is not much going on except Cavalcanti landing leg kicks. Vieira lands a combo. Cavalcanti lands a body kick. 10-9 Cavalcanti.
Vieira pushes it against the fence and lands some short knees to the legs of Cavalcanti. Vieira is trying for a takedown but Cavalcanti defends. Vieira is able to get her down, but Cavalcanti lands a few elbows from the bottom. Vieira gets into the full guard of Cavalcanti and lands a pair of left hands. Cavalcanti with short elbows from the bottom, but Vieira is keeping on top and landing some. Vieira remaining on top and continues to land. Vieira ends the round on top. 10-9 Vieira, 19-19.
Both looking for openings to start the second. Cavalcanti with a short leg kick. Vieira lands a jab. They trade right hands as Cavalcanti is pressuring. Vieira lands a jab as Cavalcanti lands a leg kick. Cavalcanti lands a right hand. Cavalcanti with a leg kick followed by a right hand. Cavalcanti lands a body kick. Cavalcanti lands a right hand and a body kick. Cavalcanti lands against the fence and lands a body kick. Cavalcanti with a right hand. 10-9 Cavalcanti, 29-28 Cavalcanti.
Fight Result- Ketlen Vieira def. Jacqueline Cavalcanti by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Lightweights- Tommy Gantt (11-0 1 NC, 0-0 UFC) vs. Artur Minev (7-0, 0-0 UFC)
Gantt immediately gets the clinch and lands some knees against the fence. Gantt scores a takedown and has the back as they get right back up. Gantt with some knees. They remain clinched up and Gantt keeps advantage as Minev lands to the body. Gantt gets it down for a moment and has the back. Gantt takes it back down but they get up. They remain tied up and Gantt lands a knee to the groin and timeout is called. They get back going and clinch back up with both battling for position. 10-9 Gantt.
Gantt gets the clinch control again and has the body lock. He is controlling Minev against the fence and lands some knees. Gantt gets a big takedown, but they get right up. Gantt keeps back control and lands some punches and knees. Gantt gets Minev down and lands punches from the back. Minev is flattened out and Gantt is landing and it is stopped! Gantt picks up the win.
Fight Result- Tommy Gantt def. Artur Minev by TKO (punches) at 2:51 of Round 2
> Light Heavyweights- Tuco Tokkos (11-5, 1-2 UFC) vs. Ivan Erslan (14-6 1 NC, 0-3 UFC)
Erslan lands a right hand. Tokkos lands a leg kick. Erslan lands an uppercut and Tokkos is stunned. Erslan gets the back along the fence. Erslan separates and lands a combination and then a right hand. They trade in close range and Ersland hurts Tokkos with an uppercut. Tokkos shoots for a takedown and they scramble. Tokkos has Erslan pressed against the fence. They scramble down and Tokkos has the neck as they stand. They separate. They trade punches. Tokkos shoots for a takedown but Erslan sprawls. They break apart. Tokkos lands a pair of jabs followed by a right hand. Erslan lands several right hands along the fence. Tokkos now lands some big shots. Tokkos lands a flurry and Erslan lands some shots. Tokkos lands late. Wild round. 10-9 Tokkos.
Erslan lands the jab early as they trade punches. Tokkos shoots for a takedown but Erslan easily defends and lands from the top. Erslan passes to side control. Erslan gets the back and lands some knees. Erslan lands punches from the back. They roll and Erslan is back on top and lands. Erslan with some left hands from the top. Erslan ends the round on top. 10-9 Erslan, 19-19.
Tokkos lands a leg kick. Tokkos with some short punches. Erslan lands a right hand. Tokkos with a body kick. Tokkos shoots for a takedown, but Erslan ends up on top. Erslan lands some left hands from the top. Erslan keeps on top and continues to land from inside the guard of Tokkos. Erslan lands a right hand. They stand and Erslan has the back and takes it down. Erslan lands from side control. Erslan with some punches from the back. 10-9 Erslan, 29-28 Erslan.
Fight Result- Ivan Erslan def. Tuco Tokkos by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
MAIN CARD | 8 PM ET | 5 PM PT
> Welterweights- Nikolay Veretennikov (14-7, 2-3 UFC) vs. Khaos Williams (15-5, 6-4 UFC)
They both come out swinging and landing. Williams lands a leg kick. Williams lands to the body and Veretennikov fires back with a right hand. Veretennikov with a quick combo. Williams rushes in and connects as they tie up against the fence. Williams lands some knees against the fence before they separate. Veretennikov lands a right hand. Williams connects with some big shots and Veretennikov goes down briefly. They get up but Veretennikov is still hurt. Williamslands a right hand and lands again and Veretennikov goes down and it is over! Williams gets the knockout win.
Fight Result- Khaos Williams def. Nikolay Veretennikov by TKO (punches) at 3:31 of Round 1
> Bantamweights- Timmy Cuamba (10-3, 2-2 UFC) vs. Bernardo Sopaj (12-3, 1-1 UFC)
Cuamba lands some early leg kicks. Sopaj lands a jab. Cuamba lands a body kick. Cuamba with another body kick. Sopaj with an inside leg kick. Cuamba with a left hook and Sopaj counters with a leg kick. Cuamba lands a left hand to the body of Sopaj. Cuamba with a right hand to the body followed by a leg kick. Sopaj lands a right hand. Cuamba with a combo to the body. Cuamba lands a right hand. Sopaj with a jab followed by a right hand. Sopaj shoots for a takedown and has the back along the fence. Sopaj jumps on the back and lands a left hand. Sopaj looks to get his arm under the chin but lets go. Sopaj with a neck crank. Cuamba gives a thumbs up. He survives. 10-9 Sopaj.
Cuamba lands a groin strike and timeout is called. They get back to action. Cuamba lands a right hook to the body. Cuamba lands to the body again. Sopaj looks for a takedown and pushes it against the fence. Cuamba defends and they separate. Cuamba lands a combination. Sopaj lands a leg kick. Sopaj drops Cuamba with a left hand and starts landing lots of punches. Cuamba is in trouble as Sopaj is landing tons of shots and now mixes in elbows. Sopaj gets the mount and continues to land as Cuamba is bleeding. Sopaj with more left hands and now locks in a choke and Cuamba taps! Sopaj picks up the submission.
Fight Result- Bernardo Sopaj def. Timmy Cuamba by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:25 of Round 2
> 215-pound Catchweights- Modestas Bukauskas (19-7, 7-5 UFC) vs. Christian Edwards (8-4, 0-0 UFC)
Bukauskas lands a leg kick. Edwards with a hard leg kick. Bukauskas lands a right hand. Edwards with a right hand. Edwards pushes Bukauskas against the fence. They separate. Edwards lands a leg kick and Bukauskas throws his hands, but Edwards pushes it back to the fence. Edwards lands short punches and a knee to the body. Bukauskas forces separation. Bukauskas lands a hard body kick. Bukauskas with a right hand. They trade left hands. Bukauskas with a body kick. Bukauskas with a thudding right hand. Edwards lands a body kick and another. Bukauskas fires back a body kick. 10-9 Bukauskas.
Edwards with a front kick. Bukauskas lands a combination. Bukauskas with a front kick and both land a right hand. Bukauskas lands a right hand and Edwards is on shaky legs. Edwards forces a clinch to recover. They separate after nothing happens. Bukauskas lands a big combination. Bukauskas lands a right hand and Edwards is hurt. Bukauskas tries to land but they tie right back up. They separate after little action. Bukauskas with a high kick. 10-9 Bukauskas, 20-18 Bukauskas.
They trade and Bukauskas with a groin strike, but Edwards says he can continue immediately. They trade punches inside the pocket. They tie up against the fence. Edwards is looking for a takedown. Edwards is just hanging on. He lands an elbow and goes back to hugging. Edwards with a shoulder strike. They break apart. Bukauskas with a left hook. Bukauskas lands a leg kick as Edwards lands a left hand. Bukauskas with a spin kick to the body. Edwards is pressing forward as Bukauskas is circling. Bukauskas lands a right hand. Edwards with a leg kick. 10-9 Edwards, 29-28 Bukauskas.
Fight Result- Modestas Bukauskas def. Christian Edwards by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
> Bantamweights- Malcolm Wellmaker (10-1, 2-1 UFC) vs. Juan Diaz (15-1-1, 0-0 UFC)
Diaz lands a leg kick. Wellmaker with a body kick. Wellmaker lands another hard body kick followed by a leg kick. Wellmaker with another body kick. Wellmaker lands a body kick. Wellmaker with a jab as he continues to connect with kicks. Wellmaker with a leg kick. Diaz grabs the body lock and pushes it to the fence. Diaz drags it down but they get right up. Diaz gets a big takedown but Wellmaker gets right up. Wellmaker lands a knee to the body. They break apart and Diaz drops Wellmaker with a right hand and then lands a knee as Wellmaker is on the mat. Timeout is called for a potential foul. It hit the shoulder so it’s not a foul. 10-9 Diaz.
Neither is landing nearly a minute into the round. Wellmaker with a left hand. Wellmaker with a left hand to the body. Wellmaker lands a body kick. Diaz grabs the body lock and scores a takedown. Diaz has control as they get to their feet. They go back to the mat with Diaz on the back. Diaz is now in the half-guard of Wellmaker. Diaz has the back as they stand and he drags it back down. Diaz is working for a choke as he traps an arm. Diaz locks in a rear-naked choke and Wellmaker taps!
Fight Result- Juan Diaz def. Malcolm Wellmaker by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:08 of Round 2
> Featherweights- Doo Ho Choi (16-4-1, 5-3-1 UFC) vs. Daniel Santos (13-2, 4-1 UFC)
Santos lands a big body kick. Choi with a heavy calf kick. Santos lands a right hand. Choi lands a jab as Santos lands a body kick. Santos looks for a takedown but Choi defends and lands a knee. Choi with a big calf kick. Santos lands a body kick. Santos with a right hand and both swing inside the pocket. Choi with a left hook and Santos lands a combo. Santos with a right hand. Santos lands an uppercut. Santos connects and Choi hurts Santos with a right hand. Santos with a series of uppercuts. Choi works the jab and Santos lands a big flurry to the head and body. Santos with a couple of uppercuts. Santos looks for a takedown. Santos gets a takedown but they get right up and Santos lands to the body. 10-9 Santos.
Santos lands a leg kick. Santos with a spinning heel kick. They both land combinations. Choi lands a jab. Santos looks for a takedown but Choi defends. Santos has Choi pushed against the fence. They break apart and Choi lands a jab. They trade jabs. Santos lands a combination. Choi lands the jab. They trade punches. Santos lands a right hand and Choi lands a big jab. Choi lands a big right hand. Choi with another right hand. Choi lands a double jab. Santos looks for a takedown but Choi defends and grabs the neck. They scramble apart. Choi lands a big left hook. Santos is backing up. Choi works the jab and is opening up. Santos is tired. Choi lands to the body and then a liver shot drops Santos and it is all over! What a fight!
Fight Result- Doo Ho Choi def. Daniel Santos by TKO (punch) at 4:29 of Round 2
> Featherweights- #7 Arnold Allen (20-4, 11-3 UFC) vs. #12 Melquizael Costa (26-7, 7-2 UFC)
Allen lands a leg kick. Costa lands a body kick followed by a spin kick. Allen drops Costa with a big left hand. Costa is able to get up and they clinch. Allen scores a takedown. Costa looks for the neck, but Allen spins out and has the back. Allen lands a knee. They stand, but Allen has control of a leg and scores a takedown. Costa ends up on top and lands some left hands from the half-guard. Costa takes the back and lands some elbows. Costa rolls and looks to lock on a body triangle. They get to their feet and Costa has the back along the fence. Costa keeps back control as they scramble and jumps on the back on the feet. Allen escapes and lands some punches before getting neck control. Allen with some elbows as Costa attacks the leg. 10-9 Allen.
Allen lands a nice jab. Costa with a short body kick and then a leg kick. Costa lands a jab as Allen lands a leg kick. Costa lands a leg kick. Allen is pressing forward. Allen with a nice combination. Allen lands a jab. Costa with a leg kick. He lands another. Costa lands a combination. Allen with a jab. Costa goes to the mat and Allen lands some leg kicks before he stands. Allen lands a left hand. They trade punches. 10-9 Allen, 20-18 Allen.
They come out and trade as Costa connects with a combination. Costa lands a leg kick and a left hand. They trade leg kicks. Allen connects with a solid left hand. Costa with a pair of leg kicks. Costa lands a knee and both land a leg kick. Allen lands a solid left hand. Costa lands a left hand. Allen connecting more as he is pressing forward. Costa with a combination. Allen lands a double jab followed by a left hand. Allen with a big left hand and follows with a combination. Costa looks for a single leg but pulls guard and Allen lands from the top. Allen with a pair of big elbows. Allen gets to side control and lands a big elbow. Costa is giving up his back and Allen lands. Allen stands and Costa is ordered up. Allen with a big left hand. Costa lands a left hand. 10-9 Allen, 30-27 Allen.
Costa lands a leg kick. They trade leg kicks. Allen with the double jab. Allen lands a solid combination. Costa lands a left hand. Allen fires back with a left hand. Allen with a left hand. Costa lands one. Allen hurts Costa again with a left hand and they tie up against the fence. Allen scores a takedown. Allen controlling from the top. They get to their feet. Allen lands a left hand. Costa with a knee to the body and Allen fires back with a left hand. Allen lands a body kick. 10-9 Allen, 40-36 Allen.
Costa comes out landing as he connects with a combiation. Allen is able to score a takedown and connects from the back. They stand with Allen still on the back of Costa. Allen scores a takedown. Costa gives up his back as he tries to get up. Allen has body control as they stand. Allen lands a knee. Allen gets another takedown and is controlling from the top. Allen with an elbow from the top. Costa looks for an arm for a kimura, but Allen steps over and takes the back. Costa falls back to slam Allen down to try and break the grip, but Allen hangs on and has full control. Allen lands from the back. Allen lands big shots from the back as they go the distance. 10-9 Allen, 50-45 Allen.
Fight Result- Arnold Allen def. Melquizael Costa by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46)
MMA writer & live coverage specialist, contributor to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter