MMAOB staff writer Adam Martin takes a deeper look at the main event of UFC 256, a five-round UFC flyweight title bout between champion Deiveson Figueiredo and challenger Brandon Moreno. The event takes place on Saturday, December 5 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Deiveson Figueiredo (-300)
Figueiredo (20-1) is the UFC flyweight champion. The 32-year-old Brazilian joined the UFC in 2017 and he has since gone on to post a brilliant 9-1 record in the Octagon with two wins over Joseph Benavidez plus victories over Alex Perez, Alexander Pantoja, Tim Elliott, and John Moraga, among others. His only loss in the UFC came against veteran Jussifer Formiga, and he just fought three weeks ago at UFC 255 when he finished Perez with a first-round submission. Figueiredo may only weigh 125lbs but he packs a massive punch in his hands. This is a fighter who possesses incredible knockout power despite being small in stature, and he also has a vicious submission game on the ground. If you want to point to flaws in his game, Figueiredo lost the fight with Formiga after getting outwrestled. He has shored up that part of his game in recent fights and at this point, he looks unstoppable. After finishing Perez in minutes at UFC 255, Figueiredo is a big favorite once again.
Brandon Moreno (+250)
Moreno (18-5-1) is the No. 1 ranked flyweight in the UFC. The 27-year-old Mexican is in his second stint in the UFC and overall has a record of 6-2-1 in the promotion. He holds wins over the likes of Brandon Royval, Jussier Formiga, and Kai-Kara France, with losses to Sergio Pettis and Alexandre Pantoja. Moreno is a young fighter who has racked up quite a bit of experience in a short period of time after turning pro in 2012. Moreno is a well-rounded fighter, with a sharp striking attack on the feet, solid wrestling, and submission ability on the mat. He is definitely one of the best flyweights in the sport right now and earned his shot at the belt after having won his last three fights. He now steps into the lion’s den when he takes on the champion Figueiredo as a sizeable underdog.
Fight Breakdown: I love this matchup as Figueiredo has turned into must-watch TV and Moreno has looked fantastic as of late. Compared to many of Figueiredo’s recent challengers, I give Moreno a better chance to have success against the champion just because he’s so well-rounded. He’s also a bit younger and has a slight reach advantage, so Moreno is definitely an interesting opponent for the champ. But I still can’t go against Figueiredo after seeing him dispose of Perez and Benavidez so easily within the last year. Figueiredo has had an incredible year in 2020 with three wins and three finishes, and momentum is a beautiful thing in MMA. Although Moreno may last a bit longer than Figueiredo’s most recent opponents, 25 minutes is a long time to be in there with the champion. I see Figueiredo scoring another finish in this fight as he defends his belt once again.
Prediction: Deiveson Figueiredo (via TKO)
