Rumors emerged earlier this week that the UFC was looking into putting on an immediate flyweight title rematch between Deiveson Figueiredo and Joseph Benavidez following their first encounter at UFC Fight Night 169 last weekend in Virginia, and Dana White has now confirmed that it is in their sights.
During a media scrum White suggested that Figueiredo’s knockout win was at least partly brought about by an accidental clash of heads earlier on, and together with the fact he’d missed weight for the bout by 2.5lbs, making him ineligible to actually claim the vacant title, that’s been enough to convince the UFC brass that a second meeting between them is warranted.
“That was a great fight,” White said. “Absolutely, I think the head butt had a lot to do with the knockout too. Not taking anything away from [Figueiredo]. I think you have to do that fight again.
“First of all, he didn’t make weight. Joe Still fought him. There was a head butt. A lot of controversy in that fight. It was a great fight. Both guys came to fight. I’m sure you know how I feel about him not making weight. We’ll do it again. They both deserve it.”