Alessandro Costa aims for another knockout to get Diego Lopes ‘fired up’ for UFC White House

Alessandro Costa is stepping in on short notice to fight Matt Schnell at UFC Vegas 118 on June 6, hoping to secure another knockout and carry that momentum to support his teammate Diego Lopes at UFC White House on June 14. Costa recently earned a performance bonus for his liver-shot knockout of Stewart Nicoll in April and is riding the positive energy from his training group's recent successes.

Lopes faces Steve Garcia on the historic White House lawn card, and Costa credits the team's recent string of performances—including Alexa Grasso's spectacular submission-knockout hybrid finish over Maycee Barber—as fuel for continued success. Costa explained that the team strategically placed fighters on separate cards to allow focused individual preparation, a tactic that has paid dividends with multiple bonuses. "Our team is getting back on its feet again," he told MMA Fighting. "It all started with Alexa. Her win really motivated me."

Costa's matchup with Schnell comes on less than ten days' notice; the two were previously scheduled to fight in September 2024 before Costa withdrew due to injury. This time, Costa negotiated a 130-pound catchweight to avoid the complications of making flyweight on short notice. Though he acknowledges Schnell's experience—including his TUF appearance and long UFC tenure—Costa believes his own trajectory has shifted significantly. "My confidence is much stronger now," he said. "A lot has changed for me over the last two years."

Costa's UFC record stands at 3-3, with all three victories coming by knockout. He remains hungry for another bonus after his recent $100,000 payday, joking that the UFC should preemptively increase it to $200,000 given his track record. The financial stakes matter deeply; as Costa noted, "A bonus changes any athlete's life, especially now that it's $100,000."