UFC Vegas 97 Update: Flyweight Bout Cancelled Due to Injury
The Matt Schnell–Alessandro Costa flyweight bout was removed from the original UFC Vegas 97 card after Costa withdrew with an injury, but Schnell was not left without an opponent: Cody Durden stepped in on short notice and the bout moved to bantamweight. Durden submitted Schnell by anaconda choke at 0:29 of round two on September 7, 2024. The UFC’s card update and official event results confirm the change and outcome.
The card change
The initial matchup had been scheduled at flyweight. The UFC’s September 4 update said Costa was removed because of an injury and that Durden would replace him; the replacement bout was booked at 135 pounds. Matt Schnell said at the time that Costa had hurt his shoulder, but the UFC’s announcement did not specify the injury.
Durden accepted the fight on short notice and finished Schnell with an anaconda choke at 0:29 of the second round. Schnell did compete after Durden replaced Costa.
Schnell and Costa eventually met
The matchup did happen later. On June 6, 2026, Schnell and Costa fought at a 130-pound catchweight at UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs. Bonfim. Costa stopped Schnell with strikes at 2:32 of the first round. The UFC’s event report and the fighters’ official UFC records list the result.
