Alessandro Costa

Costa landed the more consequential strikes in round one. The fight reached the mat in the second, where Costa took side control. He advanced to the back and finished with a rear-naked choke at 2:19.

Key moments

• Costa landed the more consequential strikes in round one.
• The fight reached the mat in the second, where Costa took side control.
• He advanced to the back and finished with a rear-naked choke at 2:19.

Costa took the fight on nine days' notice at a catchweight and needed only one round, countering Schnell's entries with overhand rights before a big right hand sent the veteran into a desperation takedown. Costa stuffed it, took top position and finished with ground strikes for his second straight knockout and a $25,000 finish bonus.

Key moments

• A short right hand visibly hurt Schnell midway through the opening round
• A heavy overhand right forced Schnell to shoot a panic takedown that Costa stuffed
• Costa took top position and ground-and-pounded until the referee stopped it in the first

Costa invested in the body throughout, then dropped Nicoll with a left to the liver with seconds left in the second round for a $100,000 Performance of the Night. He said afterward it was a shot he trains every day — 'exactly what we planned.'

Key moments

• Costa targeted the body repeatedly through the first round and into the second
• A left hook to the liver at 4:56 of round two folded Nicoll for the finish
• The stoppage earned Costa a Performance of the Night bonus

Short-notice debutant Coria, in for the injured Edgar Chairez, out-moved Costa early and finished him in the third. Costa appeared compromised by a foot problem entering the final round and was overwhelmed against the fence.

Key moments

• Both men traded heavy leg kicks early as Coria won the footwork exchanges
• Costa landed a big overhand but could not capitalize on it
• Coria pounced to open round three and finished along the fence at 0:47

Costa opened the Rio de Janeiro card by chopping down Borjas's lead leg, dropping him with a hook late in the first before the accumulated kicks ended it in the second. It was a polished striking performance to kick off the night.

Key moments

• Costa dropped Borjas with a lead hook at the end of a close first round
• Accumulated low kicks sat Borjas down early in the second
• Costa followed to the mat and finished with ground strikes at 1:35

A close, competitive loss to a surging Erceg at Madison Square Garden. Costa had his best moments in the second round but was out-positioned in the clinch down the stretch and dropped all three cards 29-28.

Key moments

• Erceg controlled the first round and rocked Costa with a right hand
• Costa surged in the second, hurting Erceg with sweeping right hooks
• Erceg leaned on clinch control to bank the third and take a unanimous decision