Matt Schnell gets new opponent 9 days ahead of UFC Vegas 118

Matt Schnell has been handed a fresh opponent just over a week before UFC Vegas 118. Alessandro Costa will replace Imanol Rodriguez in the matchup against Schnell, with the fight set to take place at the Meta APEX on June 6 at a catchweight of 130 pounds. The reason for Rodriguez's withdrawal from the card has not been disclosed.

This is not the first time Costa and Schnell were set to meet in the UFC. The pair were previously scheduled to face off in September 2024, but Costa was pulled from that bout days before the event. Cody Durden stepped in as a replacement and submitted Schnell to secure the victory.

Schnell (17-10, 1 NC) is looking to bounce back after a November 2025 loss to Joseph Morales. The flyweight has struggled of late, winning just three of his last ten UFC appearances. Costa (15-5), by contrast, arrives on positive momentum following an April victory that earned him a Performance of the Night bonus. The catchweight arrangement suggests both fighters may have agreed to meet at a neutral weight rather than at their usual division limits.