Melquizael Costa shuts down Jamall Emmers’ UFC Mexico callout – mostly

MEXICO CITY – Melquizael Costa met the media Saturday after his win over Christian Rodriguez at UFC on ESPN 64.

Costa (23-7 MMA, 4-2 UFC) won for the third straight time when he outworked Christian Rodriguez (12-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) on the prelims at Arena CDMX in Mexico City. Afterward, the Brazilian said a callout from Jamall Emmers earlier in the event probably will fall by the wayside.

“I study the division and I watch a lot of fights. I feel like I can beat anyone in this division,” Costa told MMA Junkie at his post-fight news conference. “Definitely, I think I should be fighting a ranked guy. … (Emmers) was one of the names that got brought up to me for this fight, but I didn’t think it made a lot of sense. I just fought Andre Fili, who’s a guy who’s very experienced and fought everyone in the UFC. … I don’t think it makes much sense, but if the UFC wants it (I’ll fight him).”

Emmers (21-8 MMA, 4-4 UFC) stopped Gabriel Miranda (17-8 MMA, 1-3 UFC) with a first-round TKO three fights before Costa walked to the cage, and he said a lightweight fight that makes sense for him is the Costa-Rodrigeuz winner: Costa.

Check out Costa’s post-fight news conference in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 64.