Deiveson Figueiredo picked up where he left off in his last fight with Joseph Benavidez tonight at UFC On ESPN+ 30 as he dropped him multiple times before choking him unconscious late in the opening round to become the new flyweight champion.
Round One:
The main event flyweight title rematch is underway on Fight Island!
Figueiredo takes the center of the Octagon to start. leg kick from Benavidez. Another lands and then a spinning back kick to the body.
Big right hook from Figueiredo and Benavidez slowly sinks to the mat hurt. Terrible start for him and now Figueiredo is on him on the mat and is starting to work for a rear-naked choke. It looks like that might be it, but somehow Benavidez manages to escape.
However, Figueiredo isn’t finished and goes for the choke again and again Benavidez looks in dire straits, only to manage to peel his arms away and get out of that.
Once again Figueiredo sinks it in and Benavidez is grimacing, but sneaks his head out again. Amazing stuff from Benavidez to survive that submission series and now he’s getting back to his feet.
Back to striking range and Benavidez is doing his best to fight his way back into this fight. However, Figueiredo connects again and puts him down for the second time in the fight. Benavidez back up and Figueiredo is trying to finish him, but he can’t do so.
Incredible resilience from Benavidez, but he’s taking a beating here, and it’s going to be hard to get back into the fight after this disastrous start.
Another right hand lands for Figueiredo and Benavidez is down for a third time. Benavidez trying to get back up, but it’s just not going to be his night as Figueiredo goes back to that choke and this time sends Benavidez to sleep with it just 12 seconds before the end of the round.
Great performance from Figueiredo to prove it was no fluke last time these two fought and finally get the flyweight title around his waist, but also a very tough night indeed for Benavidez.
