Melquizael Costa, a featherweight fighter in the UFC, sustained a severe foot injury merely moments into his successful bout at UFC Vegas 106. Costa earned a tough win against Julian Erosa on Saturday, extending his streak, but the injury significantly hampered him early in the fight.
The broadcast showed Costa`s left foot bleeding heavily between the first and second rounds of the fight. Despite the visible injury, Costa appeared to dismiss it and later, in his post-fight interview, expressed surprise about how his foot got cut during the match.
Ultimately, Costa defeated Erosa via unanimous decision after a hard-fought, three-round contest at the Apex facility.
UFC President Dana White Shares Graphic Details of Costa`s Injury
Although Costa downplayed any foot problem during the event, the full extent of his injury was revealed shortly after. UFC CEO Dana White posted images on his Instagram story showing a deep cut on one of Costa`s toes, resulting in significant bleeding across his foot.
Severe injuries occurring during fights are not uncommon in MMA. For example, UFC flyweight Asu Almabayev recently showed a serious eye injury he suffered after an accidental poke from Manel Kape.
Fortunately, Costa was taken to a hospital immediately after his win for treatment. Before defeating Erosa, the promising featherweight contender had secured wins against Christian Rodriguez, Andre Fili, and Shayilan Nuerdanbieke.
The recovery time for Costa`s foot injury is currently unknown. However, it is hoped that he will be back in action soon to continue his ascent in the UFC featherweight ranks.
Another Notable Incident at UFC Vegas 106: Fighter Withdrawal Due to `Herpes`
Beyond Costa`s injury, UFC Vegas 106 featured another unusual event: the co-main event between light heavyweights Rodolfo Bellato and Paul Craig was canceled just minutes before it was set to begin due to an unexpected issue concerning Bellato.
When Bellato`s last-minute withdrawal was announced during the broadcast, fans and analysts were initially unaware of the reason, with the official statement citing only an `unspecified medical issue` for the postponement.
However, Bellato later revealed on his Instagram story that `herpes` was the cause of his abrupt withdrawal. It remains unclear whether the UFC medical team removed him from the fight or if he made the decision himself.
The fight between Bellato and Craig is expected to be rescheduled. Craig has not yet publicly commented on the situation. Regardless of the specifics, Bellato`s last-minute cancelation is certainly among the more unusual reasons for a UFC fight being called off.
