Betting
UFC Fight Night Preview: Dan Ige vs Melquizael Costa Tips, Odds & Predictions
Date: Sunday, 22 February 2026 Time: 01:00 AM GMT Venue: Toyota Center, Houston, USA A big UFC Fight Night awaits, and in-form Melquizael Costa faces struggling Dan Ige at the Toyota Center in Houston. While Sean Strickland vs Anthony Hernandez will take top billing, plenty of UFC betting sites in the USA will have readily available odds for fans to capitalize on.
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Dan Ige strikes Patrício Pitbull//Getty Images
Costa has certainly been very busy, and he’s gearing up for his fifth bout in 12 months. Heading into his bout with Ige, the Brazilian has clocked up five wins in a row, and he holds an impressive 25-7-0 record.
In stark contrast, the American Ige may have home backing, and has a 19-10-0 record, but he’s lost two of his previous three fights, and there have been a few cancelled bouts too. There may be plenty of tension in the Octagon, but who will come out on top? Our Inge vs Costa preview will also provide some useful UFC betting strategies, so you have a better chance of nailing your picks.
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
The best online betting sites will post a variety of pre-match odds, including the Moneyline, so let’s see what the status quo is ahead of Ige vs Costa:
Dan Ige: 37/50 (1.74) – 57.5%
Melquizael Costa: 7/5 (2.40) – 41.7%
*Odds courtesy of FanDuel, subject to change.
Tale of the Tape
Not all UFC bookmakers are the same. Some will post a few cursory statistics, while others will have a bit more on the form guide. At SportsBoom, we don’t take anything at face value. We’ve unearthed some key information leading up to Ige vs Costa and presented the tale of the tape in a table, so you know what to look out for.
Tale of the Tape
| Attribute | Dan Ige | Melquizael Costa |
| Age | 34 | 29 |
| Height | 5’7” (170cm) | 5’10” (178cm) |
| Weight | 145lbs (65.77kg) | 145.5lbs (65.99kg) |
| Reach | 71” (180cm) | 71” (180cm) |
| Record | 19-10-0 | 25-7-0 |
| KO/TKO | 7 Wins (37%) | 8 Wins (32%) |
| Submission | 5 Wins (26%) | 8 Wins (32%) |
| Decisions | 7 Wins (37%) | 9 Wins (36%) |
Dan Ige News
One of the more experienced featherweights in the division, Ige had a disappointing 2025. Known as “50K”, Ige hasn’t always showcased his true value, and he has been put to the sword in two of his past three outings. Against Patricio Pitbull, Ige was outclassed, and the judges awarded the contest to Pitbull by unanimous decision.
With a shortish leg reach of 38” (96.5cm), Ige will need to make his jabs count, and his KO/TKO record of seven wins isn’t too shabby. Currently, the 14th-ranked contender, Ige (19-10-0), has work on his hands to propel himself into title contention.
After years of fighting top MMA stars such as Diego Lopes and Lerone Murphy, Ige is learning to live more in the present. Instead, he’s learning to appreciate what he has, and he will be motivated to deliver in front of a raucous Houston crowd. If he can dictate the pace and apply pressure early on, he could cause problems for Costa.
Melquizael Costa News
While an unfortunate skin condition granted him the nickname of “The Dalmatian”, Costa has broken through every possible barrier to realize his UFC dream.
There have been some setbacks along the way, and last year, Costa admitted to suffering an anxiety crisis while awaiting a new UFC contract. During this time, he contemplated quitting the sport and taking up non-fighting work, such as driving for Uber, as funds were tight.
After some initial career instability, Costa is starting to forge a name for himself in the featherweight world. Although he’s outside of the top 15 in the rankings, Costa has won his past five bouts in a row, and the way he dispatched of Morgan Charriere in his most recent fight with a head kick in Round 1 was impressive.
Costa’s victory over Charriere was his first TKO/KO win in UFC, but he is lively, and he could produce a lights-out performance against Ige if he starts on the front foot.
Suggested Bets
Some US betting sites will offer fascinating UFC betting insights into bouts, and of course, there will be a variety of lines to feast on. We’ve picked out a few markets that could be worth latching onto ahead of Ige vs Costa.
Melquizael Costa to Win by Submission: Although Costa’s last win came via TKO/KO against Charriere, his two victories before that over Julian Erosa and Christian Rodriguez came via unanimous decision. Intriguingly, the judges’ scorecard has been the most popular way for Costa to score a win, so this could be worth leaning into. (31/50 with FanDuel)
Melquizael Costa Over 0.5 Takedowns: Even though both fighters have an identical reach (71”), Costa is a canny fighter, and he will be ready to strike when the iron is hot. Indeed, Costa has an impressive takedown average of 1.93, which means he’s ready to initiate things. Over 0.5 takedowns during the bouts could be worth pursuing. (46/100 with Hard Rock Bet)
Dan Inge to Win by KO/TKO: While there were a couple of defeats sandwiched in between the brutal TKO/KO victories over Sean Woodson and Andre Fili, Inge has been a TKO/KO master during his career. With 37% of his wins in the Octagon coming via TKO/KO, Inge will show no mercy, and he could make light work of Costa. (11/20 with BetMGM)
Value Bets
Total Under 2.5 Rounds: Only two of Costa’s eight bouts in the Octagon have been decided in three rounds or less. Inge is in the same boat in terms of fight length, so a quick victory for either fighter might not be on the cards; however, don’t rule it out. (5/1 with Caesars Sportsbook)
Fight to Go the Distance: Ige and Costa have had to go to the trenches in some of their fights. Indeed, all four of Ige’s fights have gone to the final round, while half of Costa’s past four bouts have gone the distance. The fight to go the distance line usually offers value, and that could be the case here. (4/1 with BetRivers)
Dan Ige to Win by Decision: Inge’s spread of victories have been evenly split between TKO/KO (37%) and decision (37%). Yes, he will have to put in the hard yards in this fight, but he has the tools to outmaneuver Costa, and if so, he could take the bout on the judges’ scorecard, which has some merit. (5/1 with FanDuel)
Prediction: Melquizael Costa to Win
Melquizael Costa has been in fabulous form, and while he has had a packed-out roster of fights to contend with, he relishes the big occasions. Houston will be no different, and he will be eager to turn on the style and silence the crowd.
While Ige may be the more successful fighter, judging by the rankings, Costa has plenty of gas left in the tank, and youth could overcome experience. It could be an intriguing fight, and one where Costa could take the spoils.
Charles Perrin has spent more than six years covering the world of sports betting, during which he has collaborated with some of the most recognised sportsbooks in the UK, including industry leaders such as bet365 and William Hill.
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