Melquizael Costa is ready for a new chapter. The Brazilian fighter is set to make his divisional debut at UFC 334 on November 14, taking on veteran Jared Gordon at Madison Square Garden in New York. The event will stream on Paramount+.
Costa, holding a 26-8 record, has been on an incredible run. After scoring four wins in 2025, he started 2026 strong with a first-round TKO over Dan Ige. Although his six-fight winning streak ended with a loss to Arnold Allen in the main event, the 30-year-old decided to hang up the featherweight gloves and move up, citing brutal weight cuts.
Now, he faces a real challenge. Gordon, a 38-year-old veteran nearing his tenth anniversary with the promotion, is looking to turn things around. With a 21-9 record, Gordon has hit a rough patch, suffering back-to-back losses against Rafa Garcia and Jim Miller. This clash pits Costa’s rising momentum against Gordon’s desperate need for a rebound.
The rest of the card is stacked, headlined by Ciryl Gane defending his heavyweight title against Josh Hokit, and Kayla Harrison facing Amanda Nunes for the women’s bantamweight belt. Other notable matchups include Caio Borralho vs. Yousri Belgaroui, Uros Medic vs. Kevin Holland, and Jim Miller vs. Terrance McKinney.
