Melchizael Costa did a short job with Andre Fili on February 22, submitting the long-time veteran twice in a row in a guillotine choke. With no time to waste, he returns to the cage in five weeks to face Christian Rodriguez in the UFC Mexico.
Costa had to wait eight months between the last two UFC games, but he volunteered to stay more active after starting a new UFC contract at the suspension, not his fault. UFC matchmaker Shawn Shelby listened and offered him another match after UFC Seattle won.
“The fight is over, and I said, “Hey Dana (white), if you need me this week, next week, party‘” Costa told MMA Fighting. “I was kidding, but they took it seriously lol. I’m kidding. I was fighting, doing a medical check after the standard one, and my coach called that Sean Shelby asked if he wanted to fight on March 29th. My body said no. I thought it wouldn’t happen, but they already sent us two names on the way to the hotel, “Ceerod” and Jamall Emmers. ”
Rodriguez has scored five of the seven so far in the UFC after a recent deciding victory over Austinbashi in January, but Emmers fell 3-4 at the company in March 2024 in a knockout defeat to Natelandwale.
“In theory, it’s going to be easier to fight Jamal Emmers, but that doesn’t add much,” Costa said. “I just finished someone who hasn’t submitted within 10 years, someone who has the name of the best fight in the world, and someone who fights Jamal Emmers on Skid, which is worthless.
Costa landed in Brazil two days after his victory, calling his manager to confirm that the fight really would happen on March 29th, and on the same night he headed straight to the gym to begin another training camp. Costa flew to Mexico City a few days later, preparing for altitude and finished camping at the UFC’s Performance Institute in Mexico.
“We always expect our opponents to come in the fight, and we are waiting for what they have to offer,” Costa said. “I like studying everyone at the UFC. I haven’t missed one UFC event, so I know “Ceerod” since my battle with (Raul) Rosas Jr. He is a child with a big heart and hunger. He’s like me.