Alessandro Costa’s quest for that elusive first win of 2025 took a tough hit in San Antonio after two bouts were canceled. At the Preliminary Card held at Frost Bank Center, Alden Coria showcased his skills in an impressive UFC debut, securing a third-round TKO victory over the Brazilian flyweight on Saturday night (Sept. 13, 2025), broadcast live on ESPN+.

Coria stepped into the ring as a hefty +295 underdog, while Costa, the -370 favorite, was anticipated to bring the heat with his impressive abilities both standing and on the ground. The fighters had the audience on the edge of their seats from the start, exchanging powerful strikes and navigating intense grappling battles. However, late in the second round, Costa seemed to hurt his foot, a setback that dramatically changed the flow of the fight.

Coria entered the fight as a +295 underdog against the -370 favorite Costa, who many expected to deliver fireworks with his proven skill set both on the feet and on the mat. The two kept the crowd engaged early, trading big shots and scrambling through grappling exchanges. But late in the second round, Costa appeared to injure his foot, a setback that completely shifted the momentum.

Visibly compromised, Costa struggled just to make it back to his corner. When the third round began, he fought from a defensive shell, unable to move or fire back at full capacity. Coria wasted no time, pouring on punches until Costa slumped against the fence. That’s when Costa’s corner stepped in and threw the towel, forcing referee Dan Miragliotta to wave it off. Ultimately, veteran journalist Marcel Dorff took to X afterward, noting, “Looks like Alessandro Costa’s team threw in the towel. First time I’ve seen that since Diaz/Thomson. #NocheUFC.”

The victory pushed Alden Coria’s record to 11-3, earning him a highlight-reel UFC debut. After the fight, the ‘Cobra’ made a heartfelt pitch to UFC president Dana White, asking for a $50,000 bonus. His reason? He revealed he has a baby on the way in eight months, adding a personal touch to the biggest win of his career.

But circling back to what Marcel Dorff said, was it really the first time a UFC fight ended with the corner throwing in the towel? Not quite.

Three moments UFC corners saved their fighters by throwing in the towel

Remember the

Tito Ortiz vs. Ken Shamrock trilogy fight on October 10, 2006? That showdown helped the UFC break pay-per-view records at a time when the company was struggling to survive. Shamrock absorbed brutal punishment in the clinch and on the ground, his face nearly unrecognizable by the end of the third round. Still, the veteran was ready to answer the bell for the fourth. His corner, however, had seen enough, throwing in the towel to mark the first of three defeats in his storied rivalry with Ortiz. But that wasn’t all.

Fast forward to December 28, 2013, it was UFC 168, where Uriah Hall showcased his flashy striking against TUF legend Chris Leben. True to form, Leben came forward with relentless pressure but landed little. Hall calmly circled and countered, slicing his opponent apart with knees and elbows before dropping him with a right hand in the closing seconds of the first round. Though he made it to his corner, Leben, bloodied and exhausted, told his team he was done. They honored his request, and Hall was awarded the victory. It was the official end of Leben’s UFC career, though he briefly returned years later for a short-lived comeback against Phil Baroni in 2018.

Perhaps the most memorable corner stoppage came at UFC 229 when Tony Ferguson faced Anthony Pettis. Ferguson applied suffocating pressure throughout, forcing Pettis into a firefight. Late in the second, Pettis rocked Ferguson with a counter right, but the strike came at a cost – Pettis broke his hand in the exchange. When the round ended, the former UFC Lightweight Champion returned to his corner frustrated, and head coach Duke Roufus made the call. Refusing to send his fighter back out injured, he stopped the fight, giving ‘El Cucuy’ the win in a war that could have gone even further.

That said, are there any notable instances you recall where a fight ended with a corner throwing in the towel? And what are your thoughts on the Alessandro Costa vs. Alden Coria fight?