Melquizael Costa steps in vs. Thiago Moises at UFC 283 in Brazil

It didn’t take long for Thiago Moises to get a new opponent for his Brazilian homecoming.

Moises (16-6 MMA, 5-4 UFC) lost Guram Kutateladze (12-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) as his UFC 283 opponent just a few days ago, but promotional newcomer Melquizael Costa (19-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has stepped in on short notice.

MMA Junkie confirmed the new matchup with people with knowledge of the booking. The people asked to remain anonymous because the UFC has not yet made a formal announcement. MMA Fighting was first to report the news.

UFC 283 takes place Jan. 21 at Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC and ESPN+.

Costa has won back-to-back fights and seven of his past eight. In November, he picked up a third-round knockout win at LFA, which was his second win for the promotion.

Winner of four of his past six, Moises snapped a two-fight skid when he submitted Christos Giagos in the first round at UFC on ESPN 38 in June 2022. The finish earned him his first Performance of the Night bonus. The in his home country of Brazil will be his first there in nearly four years.

Kutateladze has split his first two octagon appearances. After he edged out Mateusz Gamrot in his UFC debut in October 2020, the All-Stars Training Center fighter lost a hard-fought split decision to Damir Ismagulov at UFC on ESPN 37 in June.

With the change, the UFC 283 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

• Glover Teixeira vs. Jamahal Hill – for vacant light heavyweight title
• Champ Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno – for flyweight title
• Gilbert Burns vs. Neil Magny
• Jessica Andrade vs. Lauren Murphy
• Ihor Potieria vs. Mauricio Rua

PRELIMINARY CARD (ABC, 8 p.m. ET)

• Paul Craig vs. Johnny Walker
• Gregory Rodrigues vs. Brad Tavares
• Melquizael Costa vs. Thiago Moises
• Gabriel Bonfim vs. Mounir Lazzez

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)

• Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Jailton Almeida
• Ismael Bonfim vs. Terrance McKinney
• Luan Luiz Lacerda vs. Cody Stamann
• Warlley Alves vs. Nicolas Dalby
• Zarah Fairn vs. Josiane Nunes
• Daniel Marcos vs. Saimon Oliveira

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 283.