​UFC flyweight Alessandro Costa wasted no time stepping back into action after a pair of quick finishes earlier in the year. He KO’d Stewart Nicoll in April and then returned in June to stop Matt Schnell in the first round. Now he’s ready for another short-notice assignment, stepping in to face Cody Durden at UFC 329. The 125-pound bout is slated for the early portion of Saturday’s prelims during the Max Holloway vs. Conor McGregor International Fight Week card in Las Vegas. Costa said the matchup came together because his last outing was swift and his body emerged unscathed, allowing him to take full advantage of an opportunity on short notice.
In his words, opportunities tend to appear when you least expect them. He noted that this year already feels pivotal, describing it as a big year with three fights in the books and a goal of finishing with a fourth win and ideally a fifth fight to cap the year. He emphasized his health and mental state as crucial factors, insisting that being injury-free and in the right frame of mind makes a real difference in achieving his aims.
Costa has long hoped to square off with Durden, and the chance finally came as he replaced Ode Osbourne at UFC 329. Durden, who hasn’t had the best run in the UFC recently, did manage a notable upset over Jafel Filho as a long-shot with a string of losses in his past seven bouts, signaling that the matchup could be a compelling test for Costa.
“Cody is an all-or-nothing fighter,” Costa commented. “He doesn’t respect anyone in there. He’s always ready to fight. Sometimes he wins, sometimes he loses. He comes from a wrestling background, and that’s well known. He throws strikes, then looks for scrambles and takedowns. But we come from jiu-jitsu. I’ve yet to show my jiu-jitsu in my fights, though it’s there. My jiu-jitsu is very dangerous, just like my striking. Like I said before my fight with Stewart Nicoll, he’s a similar type of opponent, but Cody is a bit more open and looser in his style, so I think it’s going to be a great fight.”
Costa has recorded knockout wins in all four of his UFC victories, earning bonuses in all but one of them. He expects Durden to look to grapple in the arena at the T-Mobile Arena. “He’s not a guy who likes to stand and trade for long,” Costa explained. “He throws punches with the goal of getting in on a takedown. The plan is to avoid the takedowns. I’m not approaching this fight afraid or worried about defending his wrestling. I’m going in to impose my game. I’ve been training really well. If he does manage to take me down—which would be difficult—we’ll be ready.”
The 30-year-old flyweight doesn’t plan to slow down after UFC 329. In fact, he’s already signaling his interest in staying active and continuing to push for opportunities that can help elevate his profile and climb in the rankings. Costa’s blend of dangerous striking and danger off his back makes him a fighter to watch as he continues his rapid ascent in the UFC’s 125-pound division.