Costa Says Gordon 'Going To Get Beat Up Bad' At UFC 334

Melquizael Costa predicts Jared Gordon won't hear the final bell at UFC 334.

Costa meets Gordon at Madison Square Garden on Saturday after moving up to lightweight following a six-fight featherweight run that ended with a decision loss to Arnold Allen in May. The Brazilian told MMA Fighting he expects a finish in New York. "I'm either going to knock him out or submit him, man," Costa said. "Sorry, Gordon, but you're going to get beat up bad."

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Costa Eyes December Return After UFC 334

Gordon walks into the octagon on a two-fight skid against Rafa Garcia and Jim Miller, but Costa calls him a dangerous veteran with heavy hands and a solid ground game. The 30-year-old Brazilian said fighting in front of Gordon's hometown crowd adds another challenge but won't change the outcome. If the fight ends early, Costa said he's already looking ahead to UFC 335 at T-Mobile Arena in December.

Costa went 5-0 in a 12-month stretch at featherweight before the Allen loss, finishing Dan Ige, Morgan Charriere and Andre Fili along the way. He dropped two fights at lightweight earlier in his UFC career but fought most of his pre-UFC bouts at 155 pounds. The weight cut to 145 left him struggling with injuries and limited training time, he said, and moving back up should let him stay more active.

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Costa sees a title run at lightweight ahead despite the longer road. "I'm going to be a UFC champion," he said. "That's a fact to me. I thought it would be at featherweight, but I realized that's not the case, I'll do it at lightweight." He said his goal is to retire by 35 and he's focused on making money and winning fights in the meantime. UFC 334 takes place Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

Photo by Samuel Castro on Unsplash

Original reporting:

• mmafighting.com — Melquizael Costa says Jared Gordon ‘going to get beat up bad’ at UFC 334, eyes fast turnaround for UFC 335 | MMA Fighting