Arnold Allen vs Melquizael Costa LIVE: Start time, full fight card and where to watch UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas

Arnold Allen knows he must defeat Melquizael Costa this weekend to challenge for UFC gold in the future.

It’s a battle of the top-ranked featherweights for the UFC’s latest Fight Night card, with England’s Allen facing Brazil’s Costa.

Getty

Allen, who went on a 10-fight winning streak at the start of his UFC career before defeats to Max Holloway and Movsar Evloev, dropped a close decision to Jean Silva in his last fight.

‘Amighty’ had returned to winning ways following his defeat to current No. 1 featherweight contender Evloev by defeating Giga Chikadze at UFC 304 in Manchester.

But the 32-year-old came up short against Silva at UFC 324, with the latter now challenging Evloev to be the next man to face the king of the 145lbs division, Alexander Volkanovski.

Costa, meanwhile, is on a six-fight winning streak, having stopped Dan Ige last time out and will enter the top seven at featherweight with a victory over Allen.

Allen vs Costa: Start time and how to follow

The UFC Fight Night card, also known as UFC Fight Night 276 or UFC Vegas 117, takes place on Saturday, May 16, at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas.

Coverage of the preliminary card begins at 10pm GMT (5pm ET, 2pm PT).

An exciting bantamweight clash between American Timmy Cuamba and Albanian Benardo Sopaj then begins the main card action from 1am GMT (8pm ET, 5pm PT).

The prelims will be streamed live on UFC Fight Pass for fans in the UK and Ireland, with TNT Sports and HBO Max showing the main card.

Fans in America, Australia and Latin America (including Brazil) can watch UFC Fight Night: Allen vs Costa on Paramount+.

talkSPORT.com will also be on top of the latest news and reaction from fight week for the event in Sin City.

Getty

Getty

Allen vs Costa: Fight card

Subject to change

Main card

• MAIN EVENT: Arnold Allen vs Melquizael Costa – Featherweight
• Co-main: Dooho Choi vs Daniel Santos – Featherweight
• Malcolm Wellmaker vs Juan Diaz – Bantamweight
• Modestas Bukauskas vs Rodolfo Bellato – Light Heavyweight
• Timmy Cuamba vs. Bernardo Sopaj – Bantamweight

Prelims

• Nikolay Veretennikov vs Khaos Williams – Welterweight
• Tuco Tokkos vs Ivan Erslan – Light Heavyweight
• Trey Ogden vs Thomas Gantt – Lightweight
• Ketlen Vieira vs Jacqueline Cavalcanti – Women’s Bantamweight
• Cody Brundage vs Andre Petroski – Middleweight
• Alice Ardelean vs Polyana Viana – Women’s Strawweight
• Daniel Barez vs Luis Gurule – Flyweight
• Shauna Bannon vs Nicolle Caliari – Women’s Strawweight

Allen vs Costa: What has been said?

Headliner Allen was asked on The Ariel Helwani Show about going head-to-head with the Ronda Rousey vs Gina Carano card on Netflix this weekend.

UFC Schedule

For all the upcoming fights and results this year, check out talkSPORT.com’s UFC schedule.

“I mean, the fact it’s me and Melquizael headlining against them, I don’t think the UFC are really trying to compete, right?” Allen said.

“Not trying to put me and Melky down, but let’s be real: star power. They ain’t trying to compete.

“They’re not going to try to compete with that. I don’t think they really care…

“I know what fight I’d rather watch. I’m not going to talk s***, but let’s be real.

“This is two guys in our primes, at the height of MMA. It’s at the Meta Apex. That kind of blows, but the fight itself is sick.”