Melquizael Costa grew up selling popsicles in the streets of Porto de Moz, Brazil, before starting a career in martial arts. Now fighting in the UFC, “The Dalmatian” looks back at the lessons learned on those early days as to why he shouldn’t ask for a spot on the historic UFC White House card.
Costa is making a name for himself in the featherweight division with five straight victories in the UFC, going 4-0 in 2025 alone, and booked his first assignment for the year against ranked 145-pound veteran Dan Ige at Saturday’s UFC Houston. Costa calls the Ige fight “the people’s main event,” and a win should open the door for much bigger opportunities next.
Costa doesn’t want that to be on the south lawn of the White House on June 14, though.
“When I was a popsicle seller, everyone went to school at recess time,” Costa told MMA Fighting. “I went on the first day too and sold two popsicles. I thought, ‘If everyone is at school at this time, there’s no one on the street.’ So instead of going to the schools, I went to the streets and started selling more. At the White House, I’ll be just another guy. In a main event in Brazil, I’ll be the guy.”
The UFC has yet to announce plans for a card in Brazil in 2026, but Costa expects to make himself the go-to name for a Fight Night headliner with a win on Saturday.
“Honestly, after this fight I was thinking about a fight with Aljamain Sterling, but that’s not an exciting fight for the public,” Costa said. “There are only two names. I’m going to jump the line, there’s no way around it. They’ll have to deal with it [laughs]. I’ll have to face two guys: either Diego Lopes, who went three rounds with [Ige], or, if [Alexander] Volkanovski doesn’t give Jean Silva a shot, then it has to be Jean Silva here in Brazil, main event.
“Either one, Diego Lopes or Jean Silva, has to be here in Brazil. Everyone wants to fight at the White House. I don’t care. I prefer to fight here in Brazil.”
In fact, Costa predicts he will fight three times in 2026 — “and the last one will already be for the belt.”
“I believe Jean can beat Volkanovski,” Costa said. “[Movsar] Evloev doesn’t win, Lerone Murphy doesn’t win. And I’m rooting for that. I really want to fight Volkanovski, but I’d cut the line even quicker if Jean wins.”
“The math will be simple,” he continued. “I’ll beat Dan Ige. I’ll knock out Dan Ige, who went three rounds with Diego Lopes. Then I’ll beat Diego Lopes, who knocked out Jean Silva. And Jean Silva, beating Volkanovski — like, ’I beat his dad, it’s just the two of us now [laughs]’.”
Ige is up first and the focus is on him, Costa said. The original plan was to face David Onama, but Costa said he allegedly asked the UFC for more time to prepare for his octagon return. Instead of adjusting dates, Costa was matched up against Ige for the main card of the upcoming show at the Toyota Center.
“I’m going to introduce the fans to the next UFC champion,” Costa said about his plans against Ige. “The division is pretty messy, and I’m going to fight a tough guy, and I’m going to knock out Dan Ige. Dan Ige has never been knocked out. This will be the first time.
“Dan Ige went three rounds with Diego Lopes taking the fight on the same day, last minute, and Diego had a lot of work to crack that nut. It’ll be a fight that will likely be very bloody or it’ll be quick, one of the two, but either way the people will enjoy it. And I’m going to knock out Dan Ige. It’ll be unprecedented. He’s never been knocked out or submitted, so it’ll be knockout or submission. I don’t see this fight going the distance.”
