Veteran featherweight Dan Ige is set to make his 21st walk to the Octagon this Saturday night when he faces surging contender Melquizael Costa on the main card at UFC Houston.
Ige, currently ranked No. 13 in the UFC’s featherweight division, has long served as a measuring stick for up-and-coming talent. Costa, meanwhile, has yet to crack the rankings but enters the bout riding significant momentum. After debuting in 2023, the Brazilian rebounded from an uneven start to win five straight fights. He posted a perfect 4-0 record in 2025, including first-round stoppage victories over Andre Fili and Morgan Charriere.
Despite Costa’s surge, “50k” made it clear this week that he still sees himself as a fixture near the top of the division.
“I always said, ‘no one enters through the rankings except through me.’ I was going to make a fake Bible verse! But it's kind of true,” Ige told Full Send MMA. “I still believe I'm one of the best in the world. You could put me against any top five guy and I'll still have a competitive fight. I also like to try to go out there and put on exciting fights, go for finishes, and that doesn't always go in my favor if I don't get that and it goes to a decision.”
Longevity, he argues, speaks for itself.
“This will be my 21st fight in the UFC. A lot of guys get cut after two or three losses. And there's a reason that I'm still here,” Ige said.
Critics have labeled him a gatekeeper, a tag he dismisses outright.
“You could call me a gatekeeper, call me a bum. And the people that are saying this are really nobody's business. You know? They won't even show their face on X, but I could compete with anyone in the division. I believe I could beat anyone in the division with the right game plan and (by just) showing up.”
Ultimately, Ige insists rankings and records will mean little once the cage door shuts.
“It all comes down to one night. Is this your night? Are you going to go out there and put a show on? It really comes down to that one night. You can have shitty days in the gym and show up this year for one night, go out there, put on a beautiful performance and get the dub like that's really honestly what it comes down to.
“F**k Mel Quizzles whatever the f**k his name is. His win streak means nothing. It'll come down to him and I, one night February 21st, and the best man will win. None of this records, rankings, all this s**t is bullshit. It's just the best man on that given night.”
For Ige, Saturday represents another opportunity to prove he’s more than a stepping stone, and that, rankings aside, he remains a threat to anyone at 145 pounds.
