Melquizael Costa’s recent decision victory over Julian Erosa at UFC Vegas 106 appears even more impressive considering the severe injury he sustained during the bout.
The 28-year-old featherweight secured his third win of 2025 and fourth consecutive victory by opening the main card on Saturday at the UFC APEX. While the win was hard-fought, it clearly came at a physical price.
Following the event, UFC CEO Dana White posted a video on his Instagram stories showcasing a particularly nasty gash on one of Costa’s toes. What initially might have looked like a simple cut was revealed to be much worse when someone assisting Costa carefully peeled back the skin, exposing the underlying tissue.
Still images captured from White`s video serve to illustrate the gruesome nature of the injury.
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On a positive note, White also shared an update indicating that the severe wound on Costa’s toe was treated with stitches to close the gash.
Known as “Melk Cauthy,” Costa has rapidly emerged as a significant contender in the highly competitive featherweight division, achieving a remarkable three wins in just 85 days. Prior to his intense battle with Erosa, he secured a decision victory over Christian Rodriguez at UFC Mexico, following back-to-back submission triumphs against seasoned UFC veterans Andre Fili and Shayilan Nuerdanbieke.
His record within the octagon now stands at 5 wins and 2 losses. Both of his promotional defeats came against Steve Garcia and Thiago Moises, with the latter occurring on short notice in his initial UFC debut.
