Arnold Allen: Melquizael Costa's kick felt like 'a battering ram to the stomach'

Arnold Allen faced surging prospect Melquizael Costa in the main event at UFC Fight Night 276 in Las Vegas. Allen dropped Costa early, but Costa refused to be finished and continued fighting through adversity. Allen ultimately won by unanimous decision, showing technical control throughout the bout. Costa entered the fight known for powerful kicks, and Allen expected heavy striking. The first spinning back kick that landed on Allen’s chest felt extremely forceful, and Allen linked it to clearing his chest congestion. Allen also noted he had been coughing up phlegm during fight week and joked that the kick knocked out his mild asthma. After prior losses, injury, and a return loss, Allen rebounded with the win and aimed to re-enter the title picture.

"“I wasn't surprised, but the first back kick he threw felt like I got hit with a battering ram in the stomach,” Allen said at the post-fight press conference. “I kind of expected that to happen. It was the shot that knocked out Dan Ige. But he hit me in the chest so I was like, I think that knocked the mild asthma out of me.”"

"Allen faced surging prospect Costa in the main event at UFC Fight Night 276 on Saturday in Las Vegas. While Allen dropped Costa early, the tough Brazilian refused to be put away. Despite Costa's valiant effort, Allen put on a technical masterclass to earn a unanimous decision win."

"With Costa being known for his kicking game, Allen was expecting heavy kicks. However, “Almighty” admits that the first spinning back kick from Costa that hit him in the chest felt like a battering ram. Allen also revealed that he was coughing up phlegm during fight week. The Englishman jokes that he felt like the kick from Costa cleared up the cough in his chest."

"Allen (21-4) was unbeaten in his first 10 UFC fights before suffering consecutive losses against Max Holloway and Movsar Evloev. While Allen rebounded with a win over Giga Chikadze, he was subsequently sidelined with an injury for a year and a half. Allen returned to action at UFC 324 this past January, suffering a hard-fought decision loss against Jean Silva. After returning to the win column against Costa, Allen wants to work his way back into the title picture."

Read at Sherdog