What happens if Deiveson Figueiredo wins?
Maybe the ongoing drama in the flyweight division is karma’s way of telling the UFC to stop half-assing it and either get in or get out.
Either way, should Figueiredo win Saturday night, you have to wonder if the UFC will even bother giving the title another go.
The UFC had one of the all-time greats in Johnson, mispromoted him to the degree you wondered if Dana White really was all he was cracked up to be, then let him go to ONE Championship. Cejudo appeared to be the division’s savior. Then he vacated the belt.
If the UFC is serious about rebuilding the division, Benavidez would make a capable standard-bearer for 125 pounds as the process plays out.
If Figueiredo is victorious? Not only would “Mighty Mouse” and Cejudo be out of the picture, but now, the most recognizable remaining name in Benavidez would be 0-3 in flyweight title fights, and the belt would stay vacant after the guy who missed weight won.
Why would the promotion even bother, at that point?
And it’s entirely possible Figueiredo wins. You don’t put together a 17-1 record, win six of seven UFC fights and finish two former title challengers along the way if you don’t belong at this level, even if your first career weight miss came at the most inopportune time.
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