Melquizael Costa knocked out Morgan Charriere with a head kick in 74 seconds at UFC Vegas 112, closing a perfect year and expressing personal satisfaction while planning to become the UFC featherweight champion by 2026.
Melquizael Costa delivered a stunning head kick knockout against Morgan Charriere just 74 seconds into their UFC Vegas 112 bout. This victory capped off a flawless year for the Brazilian fighter, bringing him personal satisfaction.
Before the fight, Costa expressed his dislike for Charriere, calling him “super arrogant” and “full of himself.” Their interactions during fight week only intensified Costa’s feelings.
“He thought he owned the belt,” Costa remarked post-fight. “All show, very little action. He got hit right in the mouth to learn some respect.” Costa felt Charriere lacked confidence during their weigh-in stare-down.
“Maybe he thought it was going to be easy. And it was, for me,” Costa added. His strategy was clear: “Blast him with kicks.” His coach had always emphasized the power of his kicks.
In his previous fight against Julian Erosa, Costa’s coach advised him to fake a body kick and aim high. The result? A knockout so fast, even his Muay Thai coach was caught off guard.
Costa entered UFC Vegas 112 on a four-fight winning streak, including two submissions. He felt a knockout was overdue. “I told my coach, ‘Film this, I’m going to knock this guy out with this kick,’” Costa said.
Despite his dislike for Charriere, Costa refrained from follow-up strikes. “The guy was already done, that’s it, it’s over,” he explained, emphasizing professionalism over personal feelings.
Costa is gaining recognition and cherishes messages from fans, especially those with vitiligo. “Nice to meet you, I’ve arrived,” he declared, signaling his intent to dominate the division.
UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby promised Costa a fight against a ranked opponent next. Costa draws inspiration from Charles Oliveira’s path to the top.
“Next year, three fights,” Costa predicted. “One to enter the top, the second for the title picture, and end the year fighting for the belt. Write that down.”
Costa envisions ending 2026 as the UFC featherweight champion, potentially facing Jean Silva in Brazil. “It’ll be better than the White House,” he laughed.