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Featherweights are set to collide in the UFC’s return to the Lone Star State. Multiple people with knowledge of the promotion’s plans confirmed to MMA Fighting that the UFC is close to finalizing a matchup between Dan Ige and Melquizael Costa for UFC Houston. The event takes place Feb. 21 at the Toyota Center, streaming exclusively on Paramount+. Ige went 1-1 during his 2025 campaign, but enters his first bout of 2026 looking to bounce back from a decision loss to former Bellator champ Patricio Pitbull at UFC 318 in July. “50K” has dropped three of four, including decision losses to Diego Lopes and Lerone Murphy, but also earned a stoppage win over Sean Woodson at UFC 314 this past April. Costa had a breakout year in 2025, winning all four of his octagon appearances. The 29-year-old capped off an incredible year with a brutal, 74-second head kick knockout of Morgan Charriere at UFC Vegas 112 in December. UFC Houston is headlined by a middleweight bout between former middleweight champ Sean Strickland taking on surging contender Anthony Hernandez. Guilherme Cruz contributed to this report.

Islam Makhachev showed he can compete in any combat sport, including a basketball and wrestling hybrid. The current UFC welterweight champion was part of the team representing the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov MMA School in a Wrestball tournament in Dagestan. In one of their matchups, Makhachev’s squad took on Tarki Tau and the highlights added up throughout the matchup on both sides of the ball for Makhachev. Check out some of the highlights below. Islam Makhachev is playing wrestball in Dagestan today pic.twitter.com/50n70u9GJw— Matysek (@Matysek88) January 6, 2026 2/2 for Islam pic.twitter.com/gGJveJickW— Matysek (@Matysek88) January 6, 2026 Damn, Islam is good at this! https://t.co/kqORjs1fSv pic.twitter.com/sK2sUmkfsj— Matysek (@Matysek88) January 6, 2026 And UFC champion Islam Makhachev scores the first one for the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov MMA School against Tarki Tau at the Caspian Cup wrestball tournament.🏀🗑️🙌 https://t.co/V9lwUVKKO9 pic.twitter.com/Ivk0ZD0b0A— PAM (@ParamPam1990) January 6, 2026 And UFC champ Islam Makhachev is great at defence too. https://t.co/jkrZmRSerD pic.twitter.com/JFopxD6oSb— PAM (@ParamPam1990) January 6, 2026 Makhachev began his 2025 campaign scheduled to defend the UFC lightweight title against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311, but an injury scratched the No. 1 contender the day before the event. Makhachev finished short-notice opponent Renato Moicano in the first round in what would be his final defense. From there, Makhachev vacated the title — now held by Ilia Topuria — for a move up to welterweight, where he dominated Jack Della Maddalena over five rounds at UFC 322 in November to become the 11th fighter in UFC history to win titles in two different divisions.

Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier were fierce rivals both inside and outside the octagon, and “Bones” sees their upcoming role as reality show coaches as a chance for change. The former two-division UFC champions will serve as coaches for the ALF MMA reality series, and Jones believes that being around the man he’s had such a difficult relationship throughout the years could actually make them friends after all. “I think it would be great to Daniel Cormier part of this show,” Jones said [h/t MMA Uncensored]. “Obviously him and I have a rough history. I know he doesn’t like me very much, we’ve beaten him twice, but I think him coming out here to Thailand and filming with me would be a great opportunity for us to mend this jacked up relationship. “But I have no problems with him. I think, if anything, him coming out here would give us both an opportunity to maybe start a friendship.” Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier faced off today and will coach against each other on the new season of Russian TUF show Alf Reality 🏆 pic.twitter.com/ncQ6kVzcek— MMA UNCENSORED (@MMAUNCENSORED1) January 5, 2026 Jones first fought Cormier in January 2015, winning a decision to defend his belt for the eight time. “Bones” was stripped of the title and suspended after a hit-and-run incident and Cormier won the vacant belt. Jones then won the interim belt in July 2016, after Cormier withdrew from their rematch at UFC 197, claiming gold by beating Ovince Saint Preux. The light heavyweights were finally set to unify belts at UFC 200 but a failed drug test forced Jones off the card. Jones served his suspension and returned in July 2017, knocking out Cormier but having his win overturned to a no-contest in the infamous picogram situation. Cormier was declared champion again, and defended his title once more before before moving up to heavyweight and beating Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis before retiring with a pair of losses to Miocic. Jones eventually re-claimed gold at 205 pounds and defended it three times before also going to up in weight to win a second belt.

Après deux saisons et demie à l’EAG, la gardienne Marie-Morgane Sieber va signer à l’Olympique de Marseille. En Avant lui cherche donc une remplaçante et attend aussi une défenseure.