UFC Vegas 117 Results & Highlights 16 May 2026: Arnold Allen dominates Melquizael Costa, Juan Diaz shines in debut and more (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC)
UFC Vegas 117 delivered a packed night of action at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on May 16. Arnold Allen bounced back strongly in the main event with a dominant decision win over Melquizael Costa. Juan Diaz also made headlines after submitting Malcolm Wellmaker in his UFC debut.The event featured several finishes across the card, including stoppage wins from Doo Ho Choi, Khaos Williams and Bernardo Sopaj. From the prelims to the main event, UFC Vegas 117 moved quickly and produced important results in multiple divisions.
UFC Vegas 117: Biggest results from Las Vegas as Arnold Allen, Juan Diaz and Doo Ho Choi secure major wins
Arnold Allen vs Melquizael Costa
Arnold Allen entered the fight looking to recover after his loss to Jean Silva earlier this year. He stayed composed from the opening round and controlled the pace with sharp boxing, movement and takedown defense.Costa had moments while pressing forward, but Allen landed cleaner combinations and dictated range throughout the fight. As the rounds progressed, Allen’s experience showed clearly. Judges scored the fight 50-45, 50-45 and 49-46 in his favour. The result moved Allen to 21-4 and pushed him back into the featherweight conversation.
Juan Diaz vs Malcolm Wellmaker
Juan Diaz delivered one of the standout performances of UFC Vegas 117 in his first UFC appearance. The opening round nearly ended in controversy after Diaz landed a knee during a scramble. Officials reviewed the sequence and ruled the strike legal because it mainly connected with the shoulder.In Round 2, Diaz increased the pressure and forced Wellmaker backwards with heavy punches. After getting the fight to the ground, Diaz secured back control and locked in a rear-naked choke. Wellmaker tapped at 4:08 of the round. The official result moved Diaz to 16-1-1 in his MMA career.
Doo Ho Choi vs Daniel Santos
Doo Ho Choi looked sharp throughout the fight and controlled most striking exchanges against Daniel Santos. Santos tried to answer with combinations and pressure, but Choi stayed patient and landed the cleaner shots.Late in Round 2, Choi trapped Santos near the cage and finished the fight with punches at 4:29. The TKO victory improved Choi’s record to 17-4-1 and continued his strong comeback run at featherweight.
Ketlen Vieira vs Jacqueline Cavalcanti
Ketlen Vieira returned to the win column at UFC Vegas 117 with a unanimous decision victory over Jacqueline Cavalcanti in a competitive women’s bantamweight fight. Cavalcanti entered the bout riding an eight-fight winning streak and started aggressively with leg kicks and forward pressure. Vieira stayed composed early, answered with sharp jabs and right hands, and kept the striking exchanges close through the opening round.The fight changed in Round 2 when Vieira secured a takedown and controlled large portions of the round on the ground. Cavalcanti pushed the pace again in the third round with combinations and pressure near the cage, but Vieira’s clinch work and control time helped secure the decision. Judges scored the fight 29-28 on all three scorecards, giving Vieira an important rebound win after her loss to Norma Dumont. The result also moved Vieira to the third-most wins in UFC women’s bantamweight history.
Highlight moment: Khaos Williams delivers another quick knockout
Khaos Williams once again produced one of the fastest finishes on the card. He pressured Nikolay Veretennikov early and landed heavy punches that forced a stoppage at 3:31 of Round 1.Other key UFC Vegas 117 results included Bernardo Sopaj submitting Timmy Cuamba, Modestas Bukauskas defeating Christian Edwards by split decision, and Ketlen Vieira earning a unanimous decision win over Jacqueline Cavalcanti.UFC Vegas 117 combined technical performances with quick finishes from start to finish. Allen closed the card with a much-needed win, Diaz introduced himself to UFC fans in style, and Choi continued building momentum in the featherweight division heading deeper into 2026.