Tag: Deiveson Figueiredo

UFC on ESPN+ 27 matchmaker: Who’s next for Deiveson Figueiredo after win over Joseph Benavidez?

MMA junkie’s Mike Bohn plays matchmaker and looks ahead to what makes sense for Deiveson Figueiredo in this edition of “Sean Shelby’s Shoes.”

MMA junkie’s Mike Bohn plays matchmaker and looks ahead to what makes sense for Deiveson Figueiredo in this edition of “Sean Shelby’s Shoes.”

UFC on ESPN+ 27 matchmaker: Who’s next for Joseph Benavidez after loss to Deiveson Figueiredo?.mov

MMA junkie’s Mike Bohn plays matchmaker and looks ahead to what makes sense for Joseph Benavidez in this edition of “Sean Shelby’s Shoes.”

MMA junkie’s Mike Bohn plays matchmaker and looks ahead to what makes sense for Joseph Benavidez in this edition of “Sean Shelby’s Shoes.”

UFC on ESPN+ 27 weight miss doesn’t bother Deiveson Figueiredo: ‘The belt is mine’

For now, Deiveson Figueiredo considers himself the UFC flyweight champion – gold belt or not.

NORFOLK, Va. – [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] fought in a UFC flyweight title fight Saturday night and although he won, he is not the champion.

Figueiredo (17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) was disallowed the opportunity to win the title after he missed weight at Friday’s official weigh-in. The Brazilian flyweight missed the championship limit by two-and-a-half pounds, coming in at 127.5. As a result, the title was only Joseph Benavidez was eligible to win the belt at UFC on ESPN+ 27.

After a closely contested Round 1, Figueiredo ended the fight in Round 2. As the round approached the two-minute mark, Figueiredo landed a vicious right hand that dropped the longtime UFC veteran, just seconds after an accidental clash of heads, and that was all she wrote.

Unfazed by the sequence of events which leads to him returning home without the title, Figueiredo doesn’t think his victory was less sweet. According to the Brazilian, the nature of the finish made up for weight debacle.

“I’m not sad at all,” Figueiredo told MMA Junkie post-fight. “I’m very happy. I told you before in the pre-fight interview I was going to knock him out in the second round – and I did. I owe this for the people watching TV. I owe this for the people coming to the arena. Because I didn’t make the weight, I had to compromise and give a big statement for the people.”

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A contributing factor to Figueiredo’s nonchalant attitude may lie in his claim the weight-cut issue was, and will remain, an isolated incident. Cramps aren’t something Figueiredo has encountered before, and this was the first time he ever missed weight.

“I was cutting the weight really smooth,” Figueiredo said. “Everything was fine. In the day of the weigh-in, I feel a cramp. I felt bad in my stomach. My team called my doctor and nutritionist. She told my team, ‘If you really feel that, it’s better to stop.'”

Figueiredo will only make once change going forward. He’s going to bring his nutritionist with him for his next fight. In his eyes, Friday was a hiccup – but no different than anything other great fighters have encountered and overcome.

“This happened for the first time,” Figueiredo said. “I’m not going to do anything different – just one thing. I’m going to bring my nutritionist next time. Besides that, nothing. I always got the weight I was supposed to get. This was the first time. It was really a cramp in my stomach. I really felt bad.

“You guys have to remember many great fighters have had this happen before. Khabib one time did not get the weight. Now, (Yoel) Romero is going to fight for the belt. How many times did he not make the weight? It was the first time (for me).”

For now, Figueiredo considers himself the UFC champion – gold belt or not.

“It doesn’t matter,” Figueiredo said. “Whoever the UFC puts me to fight, I’m going to fight. I just won my belt. The belt is mine. I just don’t hold it. I proved that.”

UFC on ESPN+ 27 took place Saturday at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Va. It streamed on ESPN+.

Check out Deiveson Figueiredo’s full UFC on ESPN+ 27 post-fight scrum in the video above.

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UFC on ESPN+ 27: Deiveson Figueiredo post-fight interview

Deiveson Figueiredo talks to media after his UFC on ESPN+ 27 victory.

Deiveson Figueiredo talks to media after his UFC on ESPN+ 27 victory.

Twitter reacts to Deiveson Figueiredo’s TKO of Joseph Benavidez at UFC on ESPN+ 27

See the top Twitter reactions to Deiveson Figueiredo’s win over Joseph Benavidez in the UFC on ESPN+ 27 main event.

[autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] got a huge win Saturday against [autotag]Joseph Benavidez[/autotag] in the UFC on ESPN+ 27 main event.

However, it didn’t get him a belt, as he missed weight on Friday. While Benavidez would have won the flyweight title with a victory, Figueiredo was ineligible, and thus the belt remains vacant.

The once-beaten Brazilian Figueiredo (18-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) scored a second-round TKO victory over Benavidez (28-6 MMA, 15-4 UFC) in the headlining bout, which took place at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Va.

Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Figueiredo’s title-fight victory over Benavidez at UFC on ESPN+ 27.

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UFC on ESPN+ 27 results: Deiveson Figueiredo TKOs Joseph Benavidez, but title stays vacant

Deiveson Figueiredo scored an impressive victory on Saturday, but because he missed weight Friday, he doesn’t take home the gold.

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There was a decisive victor in the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 27 on Saturday, but there still is no flyweight champion.

[autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] earned the biggest victory of his career when he scored a second-round technical knockout of [autotag]Joseph Benavidez[/autotag] in a bout that was supposed to crown a new 125-pound champion in Norfolk, Va.

But Figueiredo missed weight Friday, coming in at 127.5, two-and-a-half pounds over the championship weight limit. As such, while Benadivez (28-6 MMA, 15-4 UFC), who made weight, would have won the title with a victory, Figueiredo earned the victory, but not the belt, as the title remains vacant.

“I am sorry for missing weight, but I told everybody I want to give a big show because you guys deserve a big main event,” Figueiredo (17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) said through an interpreter.

The fight was fun while it lasted. The opening round was a wild mix of technical wizardry and flat-out brawling. Figueiredo scored a takedown and transitioned through several submission attempts on the ground. But Benavidez managed to roll through all of them and scramble back to his feet.

From there, a firefight broke out. Benaidez got the better of things throughout the rest of the round, as he landed effective combos and then usually managed to dart out of range before his Brazilian foe could counter.

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It was more of the same in the second round, but Benavidez got a little reckless in his approach. There was an accidental clash of heads during an exchange, which immediately opened a big cut on Benavidez’s forehead. Figueiredo pounced and landed a body shot, followed by a wicked right hand which dropped him. Figueiredo was starting to land bombs on his grounded for before the fight was called off at the 1:54 mark.

It was another hard-luck title fight loss for Benavidez, who dropped a split decision to Dominick Cruz in a WEC bantamweight title fight and a pair of fights to former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson.

“I feel like this isn’t real right now,”Benavidez said. “A freakin’ nightmare.”

With his 15th career win via finish, Figueiredo has now won three in a row. Benavidez had a three-fight winning streak snapped.

The vacant flyweight title bout was the UFC on ESPN+ 27 main event at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Va. It streamed on ESPN+.

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Video: Check out the top five vacant UFC title fights

Watch highlights of the top five vacant UFC title fights, including Henry Cejudo joining a select few to hold two belts simultaneously.

This Saturday, a new UFC flyweight champion will be crowned when [autotag]Joseph Benavidez[/autotag] and [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] battle for the vacant title in the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 27.

Current UFC bantamweight champion [autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] recently relinquished his UFC flyweight title, giving Benavidez his long awaited third crack at the 125-pound title, and Figueiredo’s first opportunity.

Previously, there have been some memorable vacant title fights in the UFC, most recently a UFC 238, when Cejudo joined a select few to hold two UFC titles simultaneously.

Check out the latest video compilation published by the UFC, showing highlights of the top five vacant title fights.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B9CUWianXId/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

For those who haven’t seen the fights, we won’t spoil the ending – but the compilation includes:

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Al Iaquinta – UFC 223 (April 7, 2018)
  • Henry Cejudo vs. Marlon Moraes – UFC 238 (June 8, 2019)
  • Anthony Johnson vs. Daniel Cormier – UFC 187 (May 23, 2015)
  • Matt Hughes vs. Georges St-Pierre UFC 50 (October 22, 2004)
  • Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler UFC 171 (March 15, 2014)

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UFC Fight Night 169: Joseph Benavidez vs. Deiveson Figueiredo Preview, Fight Card, Live Stream, How to Watch

How to watch to watch the UFC fight tonight. Live stream UFC Fight Night 169 flyweight title with Joseph Benavidez vs Deiveson Figueiredo

UFC Fight Night 168 features a rare title bout when Joseph Benavidez looks to win the vacant flyweight belt against challenger Deiveson Figueiredo. You can only watch this UFC stream on ESPN+.

Figueiredo missed weight, which means he’ll forfeit 30% of his purse and can’t actually win the belt even if he wins the fight. Benavidez opened up with his thoughts on his opponent missing weight by nearly three pounds, laying down some great pre-fight smack talk.

“He wasn’t going to ever win the belt, anyway,” Benavidez said per MMAJunkie.

There’s also a toss-up at women’s featherweight on this card that will likely lead to a title bout against champion and women’s pound-for-pound leader Amanda Nunes. Felicia Spencer will look to impress against Zarah Fairn after her tough decision loss to Cris Cyborg at UFC 240 in July. Megan Anderson could also earn herself a title bout against Nunes if her fight against Norma Dumont is more exciting and impressive.

With so much on the line, you won’t want to miss UFC Fight Night 169. You can only watch the UFC fight tonight on ESPN+, so sign up now!

How to watch UFC Fight Night 169:

Who: Joseph Benavidez (28-5) vs Deiveson Figueiredo (17-1)

For: UFC Flyweight belt

When: Saturday, Feb. 29, 5:00 p.m. ET (Prelims) – 8:00 p.m. ET (Main card)

Where: Chartway Arena, Norfolk, VA

UFC stream:

UFC Fight Night 169 live stream: Watch the UFC fight tonight on ESPN+.

UFC Norfolk Main Card (8 p.m. ET)

  • Joseph Benavidez vs. Deiveson Figueiredo – Flyweight Title
  • Felicia Spencer vs. Zarah Fairn – Women’s Featherweight
  • Ion Cutelaba vs. Magomed Ankalaev – Light Heavyweight
  • Megan Anderson vs. Norma Dumont – Women’s Featherweight
  • Grant Dawson vs. Darrick Minner – Featherweight

UFC Norfolk Prelims (5 p.m. ET)

  • Gabriel Silva vs. Kyler Phillips – Bantamweight
  • Brendon Allen vs. Tom Breese – Middleweight
  • Marcin Tybura vs. Serghei Spivac – Heavyweight
  • Luis Pena vs. Steve Garcia – Lightweight
  • Jordan Griffin vs. TJ Brown – Featherweight
  • Aalon Cruz vs. Spike Carlyle – Featherweight
  • Sean Brady vs. Ismail Naurdiev – Welterweight

We recommend interesting sports viewing and streaming opportunities. If you sign up to a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee.

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4 burning questions heading into UFC on ESPN+ 27, including that hard-to-predict flyweight division

MMA Junkie senior editor Dave Doyle walks you through the key storylines as the UFC heads to Virginia.

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A weight class once thought to be on life support will crown a new champion on Saturday night. Or will it?

Despite widespread rumors the UFC was going to ditch the men’s flyweight division, which was accompanied about a year back by an obvious paring back in the roster of 125-pounders, the division lives.

[autotag]Joseph Benavidez[/autotag], one of the greatest fighters never to hold a UFC title, will meet Brazil’s [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] in the UFC on ESPN+ 27 main event Saturday.

The bout originally was set to fill the vacancy left by Henry Cejudo, who defeated longtime standard-bearer Demetrious Johnson at UFC 227 to claim the championship, then went on to win the bantamweight title at UFC 238 before relinquishing the former late last year.

However, Friday morning’s weigh-ins brought a wrinkle: Figueiredo missed the championship weight limit by 2.5 pounds, coming in at 127.5. That means if Benavidez wins, he’ll become champion. If Figueiredo is victorious, the title will remain vacant.

We’re not going to lie to you and act like Saturday night’s card is the deepest or most intriguing the promotion has ever lined up. But the potential of a new champion’s coronation in a fight that looks solid on paper is enough to merit giving this show a look all on its own. And a pair of fights that amount to de facto auditions for a shot at UFC women’s featherweight queen Amanda Nunes offer yet another fine reason to tune in.

UFC on ESPN+ 27 takes place Saturday at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Va. The card streams on ESPN+. 

Without further ado, then, here are four burning questions heading into UFC Norfolk.

Will Joseph Benavidez finally capture his elusive world title? 

Joseph Benavidez

If one judge had scored one round differently at WEC 50, Benavidez (28-5 MMA, 15-3 UFC) would have defeated Dominick Cruz for the bantamweight title.

If one judge had scored one round differently at UFC 152, Benavidez, not Johnson, would have been the first UFC flyweight champion.

Those razor-thin margins in a pair of split decisions mark the difference between Benavidez getting counted among the ranks of world champions many years ago, and his distinction now as one of the greatest fighters never to hold a major belt.

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Now he’s finally getting another chance to change that status. Benavidez, who also lost a rematch to Johnson via knockout in 2013, has 20 victories in Zuffa counting his WEC days. And this fight with Figueiredo (17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) isn’t just a lifetime achievement award in and of itself: He’s won three straight and nine of 10, a run that includes a victory over Cejudo to earn another crack at the gold. 

Benavidez will be remembered as one of the great ones regardless of what happens Saturday. But as Michael Bisping can tell you, getting the title toward the end makes all the perception difference in the world.

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UFC on ESPN+ 27 predictions: Is anyone picking Figueiredo over Benavidez?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC on ESPN+ 27 main card in Norfolk, Va., where Joseph Benavidez goes after the flyweight title.

Benavidez
vs.
Figueiredo		 Fairn
vs.
Spencer		 Ankalaev
vs.
Cutelaba		 Anderson
vs.
Dumont		 Dawson
vs.
Minner
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2020: 28-16		 benavidez2020
Benavidez
(71%)		 spencer2020
Spencer
(95%)		 ankalaev2020
Ankalaev
(63%)		 anderson2020-1
Anderson
(82%)		 dawson2020
Dawson
(87%)
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2020: 34-10
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 benavidez2020
Benavidez		 spencer2020
Spencer		 ankalaev2020
Ankalaev		 anderson2020-1
Anderson		 dawson2020
Dawson
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2020: 33-11		 benavidez2020
Benavidez		 spencer2020
Spencer		 ankalaev2020
Ankalaev		 anderson2020-1
Anderson		 dawson2020
Dawson
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2020: 33-11		 benavidez2020
Benavidez		 spencer2020
Spencer		 ankalaev2020
Ankalaev		 anderson2020-1
Anderson		 dawson2020
Dawson
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2020: 33-11		 benavidez2020
Benavidez		 spencer2020
Spencer		 ankalaev2020
Ankalaev		 anderson2020-1
Anderson		 dawson2020
Dawson
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2020: 32-12
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 benavidez2020
Benavidez		 spencer2020
Spencer		 cutelaba2020
Cutelaba		 anderson2020-1
Anderson		 dawson2020
Dawson
Simon Head
@simonhead
2020: 32-12
trophy copy 2019 Champion*		 benavidez2020
Benavidez		 spencer2020
Spencer		 ankalaev2020
Ankalaev		 anderson2020-1
Anderson		 dawson2020
Dawson
Dave Doyle
@davedoylemma
2020: 32-12		 benavidez2020
Benavidez		 spencer2020
Spencer		 ankalaev2020
Ankalaev		 anderson2020-1
Anderson		 dawson2020
Dawson
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2020: 32-12		 benavidez2020
Benavidez		 spencer2020
Spencer		 ankalaev2020
Ankalaev		 anderson2020-1
Anderson		 dawson2020
Dawson
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2020: 32-12		 benavidez2020
Benavidez		 spencer2020
Spencer		 ankalaev2020
Ankalaev		 anderson2020-1
Anderson		 dawson2020
Dawson
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2020: 32-12		 benavidez2020
Benavidez		 spencer2020
Spencer		 cutelaba2020
Cutelaba		 anderson2020-1
Anderson		 dawson2020
Dawson
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2020: 30-14		 benavidez2020
Benavidez		 spencer2020
Spencer		 ankalaev2020
Ankalaev		 anderson2020-1
Anderson		 dawson2020
Dawson
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2020: 30-14
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 benavidez2020
Benavidez		 spencer2020
Spencer		 ankalaev2020
Ankalaev		 anderson2020-1
Anderson		 dawson2020
Dawson
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2020: 27-17		 benavidez2020
Benavidez		 spencer2020
Spencer		 ankalaev2020
Ankalaev		 anderson2020-1
Anderson		 dawson2020
Dawson
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2020: 20-24		 benavidez2020
Benavidez		 spencer2020
Spencer		 cutelaba2020
Cutelaba		 anderson2020-1
Anderson		 dawson2020
Dawson

The UFC returns to Virginia this week, and the vacant flyweight title is on the line at the top of the bill – but only for one of the fighters.

UFC on ESPN+ 27 takes place Saturday at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Va. The card streams on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, two-time flyweight title challenger [autotag]Joseph Benavidez[/autotag] (28-5 MMA, 15-3 UFC) gets his third crack at the belt when he takes on [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] (17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC). Figueiredo is not eligible to win the title after he missed weight by 2.5 pounds Friday. Benavidez is just a slight favorite from the oddsmakers at -145, but he pitched a shutout in the picks from our 14 MMA Junkie editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers.

The co-main event features one of three other unanimous picks on the five-fight main card. [autotag]Felicia Spencer[/autotag] (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) is the biggest favorite on the card at 8-1 against [autotag]Zarah Fairn[/autotag] (6-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) in their women’s featherweight bout. Not surprisingly, Spencer has a 14-0 picks shutout.

[autotag]Megan Anderson[/autotag] (9-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC), who like Spencer is a former Invicta FC champion, also has a unanimous nod from our pickers against [autotag]Norma Dumont[/autotag] (4-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who is making her UFC debut. Anderson is a -235 favorite in the fight.

And [autotag]Grant Dawson[/autotag] (14-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC), who is a 4-1 favorite in his featherweight fight against [autotag]Darrick Minner[/autotag] (24-10 MMA, 0-0 UFC), is our fourth unanimous pick in five fights on the main card.

The only contentious fight among our pickers is at light heavyweight. Still, [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] (12-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC), a -225 favorite, has a big lead in the picks against [autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag] (15-4 MMA, 4-3 UFC). Only three of our 14 pickers are taking Cutelaba in an upset.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Benavidez (71 percent), Spencer (95 percent), Ankalaev (63 percent), Anderson (82 percent) and Dawson (87 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.