(Editor’s note: A previous version of this story only reported on Costa being injured and out.)
UFC Fight Night 242 has lost one of its best bouts on paper, but all is not lost.
A flyweight scrap between Alessandro Costa and Matt Schnell has been pulled from Saturday’s event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas after Costa (14-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC) suffered a shoulder injury. Stepping in to fight Schnell on just five days’ will be Cody Durden (16-6-1 MMA, 5-4-1 UFC).
Schnell (16-8 MMA, 6-6 UFC) first broke the news online Monday night of Costa’s injury, and MMA Junkie later confirmed the injury with Costa on Tuesday. Durden confirmed to MMA Junkie that he is replacing Costa after sharing a post on X.
Just signed a new 4 fight deal with the @UFC! See you in Vegas this weekend!
Packing my bags now, no cornerman. Just my wife and I. Fuck it, this is what I was born to do.— Cody Durden (@Cody_Durden) September 3, 2024
Costa revealed to MMA Junkie that he will need physical therapy to rehabilitate his shoulder and hopes to be able to return in a few weeks.
Costa was hoping to build momentum off his TKO win over Kevin Borjas back in May. The Brazilian, who trains with Diego Lopes in Puebla, Mexico, is 2-1 in his past three bouts, with the lone defeat coming against former UFC title challenger Steve Erceg.
Schnell will look to snap a two-fight skid. He was knocked out in his most recent bout in March against Erceg. Durden also is coming off back-to-back losses after he was TKO’d by Bruno Gustavo da Silva on July 20.
With the change, here is the updated UFC Fight Night 242 card:
MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 242.
