Melquizael Costa is a Brazilian UFC fighter who made his debut with the organization at UFC 283. He faced Thiago Moises in a lightweight bout, losing via submission in the fourth round. He went on to fight Austin Lingo at UFC Vegas 77, winning via unanimous decision. Costa’s last bout was against Steve Garcia at UFC Fight Night 233, which he lost by TKO in the first round.
The Mixed Martial Artist made his MMA debut in 2014 and holds a record of 20 wins and 7 losses. His current UFC record stands at 1-2, which he surely would like to improve upon. He has fought in two weight classes, including lightweight and featherweight. Currently unranked in the UFC, the Brazilian holds the 80th rank when it comes to the world’s best featherweight rankings.
Steve Garcia finishes Melquizael Costa with a BRUTAL TKO in the 2nd Round 😳🔥
He extends his win streak to 3 ✅ #UFCVegas83
pic.twitter.com/466q6aTaF1— Combat Sports Today 📰 (@CSTodayNews) December 10, 2023
Out of his 20 professional wins, 7 have come by KO/TKO and 6 by submission. He has fought in organizations such as LFA, Presas Combat, and Future MMA. The Fighter currently trains at the Chute Boxe João Emilio Gym, based out of Bauru, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
What skin condition does the UFC fighter suffer from?
After a dominant loss against Steve Garcia at UFC Fight Night 233 via vicious striking and ground and pound, the fans were intrigued by Costa’s appearance. Nicknamed Melk Cauthy, the 27-year-old suffers from a skin condition called vitiligo. This causes the sufferer to have white patches on his skin, mostly around the neck, face, and hands.
Melquizael Costa, a fighter born with a rare skin condition, will realize his UFC dream tonight.#UFC283 | Full story: https://t.co/DubvAHC8jz pic.twitter.com/zkcLIVOQ4E
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) January 21, 2023
The condition is caused by a lack of pigment, and melanin, and is long-term. In an interview with MMA Junkie, the UFC fighter shared his struggles with the same and how he was able to overcome them. He faced the condition at the age of four, which led to misunderstandings and discrimination in his community. Often confused with leprosy, Melquizael Costa had to go through dark times due to his skin appearance.
Melquizael Costa finally took a path to self-acceptance when he found out about Scott Jorgensen, a UFC fighter who also suffered from the same condition. This motivated him to pursue a career as a mixed martial artist, and he was quick to learn the aspects of the sport. The Brazilian Fighter wishes to use his platform to stand for diversity and take action against the discrimination and prejudice faced in society today.
He is married to Cintia Larissa and has a daughter, Ana, with her. There isn’t any official information on when the couple got married or how they met. Fatima is seen accompanying Melquizael Costa to his training, and they also share outing pictures on social media with the fans. Costa wants to inspire the MMA community as well as people across the world to become comfortable and proud of themselves, irrespective of any differences or setbacks.