​Alessandro Costa and Cody Durden met earlier tonight (Saturday, July 11, 2026) at UFC 329, streaming live on Paramount+ from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. In a standout performance delivered on short notice, Costa showcased his class by rocking Durden and finishing with a second-round submission. Durden opened the bout with solid movement, keeping his distance, and landing a string of effective combinations. He demonstrated sharp feints and landed several uppercuts, forcing Costa to work harder to close the distance. Yet Costa, channeling the relentless intensity of a fighter in peak form, pressed forward with the same relentless pressure his corner has long emphasized. He mirrored the ferocity of his mentor and former corner man Diego Lopes, charging ahead with a flurry of multi-punch combinations that started to turn the tide in his favor. As the first round progressed, Costa’s output began to overwhelm Durden, and in the final minute he unleashed a brutal sequence of body and head strikes that created a visible cutting opening over Durden’s eye, signaling the shift in momentum and signaling the danger Costa posed as the pace intensified.
The second round began with Durden showing resilience and solid footwork, along with continued exchanges that kept Costa honest. However, the energy cost of the early onslaught began to show in Durden’s movement, and Costa capitalized on the signs of fatigue. A pivotal moment occurred when Durden attempted a high kick, slipped, and allowed Costa to gain top position. From there, Costa demonstrated clean, controlled Brazilian jiu-jitsu, smoothly passing through Durden’s guard and taking control on the back. In a matter of moments, he locked in a finish—an audible and decisive submission that forced Durden to tap, sealing the victory for Costa.
Video highlights from the bout underscored Costa’s high-paced, all-action approach and his capability to finish fights on short notice. With this win, Costa has now strung together three consecutive victories, all by finish, which elevates his UFC record to 5-3. The performance signals that Costa is approaching a potential ranking clash with a top flyweight, as he continues to mature into what many expect to be the prime years of his career. At only 30 years old, Costa appears to be hitting his stride, displaying the combination of speed, power, and technical refinement that makes him a constant threat in the flyweight division.
So, who should be next for “Nono” Costa? While the promotion will weigh options, a bout against a high-caliber opponent in need of a marquee finish could be the ideal next step to test his readiness for the ranked tier and to propel his ascent toward title contention in the ultra-competitive UFC flyweight rankings. For fans seeking more on UFC 329 results, coverage, and highlights, more information is available and will be updated as the event continues to unfold.