UFC Fight Night: Matt Schnell vs Alessandro Costa Preview & Prediction
125 pound staples meet in a catchweight bout, with veteran flyweight, Matt Schnell, taking on dangerous finisher, Alessandro Costa.
Matt Schnell vs Alessandro Costa facts
What time are Matt Schnell and Alessandro Costa expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs Bonfim? Meta Apex, Enterprise, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs Bonfim? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 278
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs Bonfim on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs Bonfim? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs Bonfim main card
Belal Muhammad vs Gabriel Bonfim (Welterweight)
Brendan Allen vs Edmen Shahbazyan (Middleweight)
Fares Ziam vs Tom Nolan (Lightweight)
Bryce Mitchell vs Santiago Luna (Bantamweight)
Iwo Baraniewski vs Junior Tafa (Light Heavyweight)
UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs Bonfim prelims
Matt Schnell vs Alessandro Costa (Catchweight - 130 lb)
Marcus McGhee vs John Yannis (Bantamweight)
Bruno Gustavo da Silva vs Edgar Chairez (Flyweight)
Priscila Cachoeira vs Chelsea Chandler (Women’s Bantamweight)
Jordan Leavitt vs Joanderson Brito (Featherweight)
Jeisla Chaves vs Yuneisy Duben (Women’s Flyweight)
Ketlen Souza vs Ariane Carnelossi (Women’s Strawweight)
Matt Schnell: "Danger" aims to snap an absolutely dismal run of results
A UFC competitor for almost a decade, Matt Schnell (17-10, 1 NC) makes his first appearance of 2026 following a submission defeat to Joseph Morales last November. Primarily operating as a submission artist who has fought many of the best fighters in the flyweight division, Schnell is well into the twilight of his career at 36, having briefly flirted with retirement in recent years. Best known for an epic comeback war against Su Mudaerji in 2022, the biggest knock against “Danger” is his durability; Schnell has been finished in all of his UFC losses to date, a record that includes five knockout losses.
Alessandro Costa: Can the Brazilian bruiser score the biggest win of his career?
Posting a UFC record of 3-3, Alessandro Costa (15-5) looks to string together consecutive victories for the first time since joining the promotion in 2022. A high octane action fighter who has earned stoppages and POTN bonuses in each of his three victories to date, Costa is a solid talent, giving the ranked likes of Amir Albazi and Steve Erceg problems even in losing efforts. While many were writing the Brazilian off in the aftermath of a TKO loss to the surging Alden Coria as a significant favorite, Costa rebounded in impressive fashion last time out, scoring a nasty TKO win over Stuart Nicoll. He steps in for Imanol Rodriguez on short notice, after the Mexican prospect withdrew.
Matt Schnell vs Alessandro Costa prediction
This is absolutely diabolical matchmaking. Originally slated to face the similarly heavy handed Imanol Rodriguez, the notoriously chinny Schnell finds himself face to face with another fighter renowned for their punching power at 125 pounds.
“Danger” is on a torrid run of form, going 1-4 across his last five with all of those defeats coming by way of stoppage. His only win during that time is over Jimmy Flick, a man with exactly zero KO wins to his name. This isn’t even a late career development for Schnell; he’s been KO’d five times at flyweight and has been finished by knockout or submission every single time he’s lost under the UFC banner.
Costa’s reputation may have taken a hit after a TKO loss to rising prospect, Alden Coria, but he’s still an extremely dangerous flyweight. He’s finished all of his UFC wins before the final bell, most recently taking out Stewart Nicoll with a vicious body shot in April. The only way to stop the Brazilian has usually been to TKO him, something that doesn’t figure to be much of a danger from a submission fighter like Schnell. Moreover, he’s got solid takedown defense and has never been tapped out in twenty professional fights.
Long story short, there’s a reason why Costa is such an enormous favorite here. The Brazilian folds Schnell with punches or snatches up a submission after hurting "Danger" on the feet somewhere in the first two rounds.
Prediction: Alessandro Costa to win by stoppage
