All eyes are on the UFC as the promotion makes its much-awaited return to Austin. Having seemingly gone all out for the end of the year, we have yet another banger card in store. With that said, we will be focussing on Steve Garcia vs Melquizael Costa for this one.
Initially, there was a lot of hype following the announcement of the headliner for the event. In what is sure to be an enthralling contest of two top lightweights, Beneil Dariush will take on surging contender, Arman Tsarukyan. However, the card is stacked right down to the preliminary card, much to the delight of fans.
Steve Garcia Jr. will fight Melquizael Costa at #UFCAustin on December 2nd. (first rep. @TeamIridiumISA) #UFC #MMA #UFCESPN #UFC2023 pic.twitter.com/S3tipSmmy3
— Marcel Dorff 🇳🇱🇮🇩 (@BigMarcel24) October 8, 2023
With the main card full of some top-tier talents and matchups, the prelims do not cease to impress either. With tons of exciting prospects and familiar names taking to the cage, UFC Austin promises to be a night to remember. One such potentially memorable fight is Steve Garcia vs Melquizael Costa.
Interestingly, both fighters are coming off of wins and coming in with a point to prove. Whilst Steve Garcia has been around the block for a while now, Costa is still looking to find his feet in the division. However, both fighters are hungry, and excited, which is always the recipe for some fireworks. As such, let’s take a look at how the two stack up.
Steve Garcia vs Melquizael Costa stats
Stats | Steve Garcia | Melquizael Costa |
---|---|---|
Wins | 14 | 20 |
Losses | 5 | 6 |
Height | 6 ft | 5 ft 9 in |
Division | Lightweight | Lightweight |
Reach | 75 in | 71 in |
Age | 31 | 27 |
UFC Austin: Steve Garcia vs Melquizael Costa prediction
Surprisingly, many are leaning towards Melquizael Costa for this one. Although the Brazilian only has a couple of UFC fights under his belt, he has more career fights than Garcia. With that said, Costa made his debut against Thiago Moises and lost via submission. Following that, ‘Melk Cauthy’ made a turnaround in July beating Austin Lingo via unanimous decision.
View this post on Instagram
A hardworking and tenacious fighter, Costa will be returning to lightweight for this one. Be it due to his vitiligo condition or his over-the-top hair colors and designs, Melquizael is the type of fighter that can quickly grab people’s attention. Having fought in numerous promotions in Brazil and around the world, Costa is well-versed in his craft. As for his opponent, Garcia is a proper kill-or-be-killed kind of fighter who likes to stand and bang.
Previously, Garcia absolutely obliterated Chase Hooper on the feet, scoring multiple knockdowns before the referee waved off the contest. Similarly, the ‘Mean Machine’ continued his onslaught at UFC 287, knocking out Shayilan Nuerdanbieke in Round 2. Clearly, Garcia has a very simple yet effective game plan and will likely look to replicate the same against Costa.
30-26
30-27
30-27Melquizael Costa picks up a huge win in his featherweight debut! ✅#UFCVegas77 pic.twitter.com/Rd9wv0L8Se
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) July 16, 2023
However, Melquizael is a crafty fighter and loves to maintain his distance and use his leg kicks. Should he stay out of the pocket and chop down at Garcia from a distance, he will be able to find a lot of success. As for Garcia, who is clearly the more heavy-handed out of the two, will try to close the gap and land one of his devastating hooks. A razor-thin contest that will likely not go the distance, this one could easily go either way.