Deiveson Figueiredo claimed a big knockout win over Joseph Benavidez on Saturday night, but didn’t win the flyweight title due to having missed weight for the bout by 2.5lbs, and now there’s talk that the UFC may be looking to put together an immediate rematch between them.
That’s the word from Figueiredo’s own manager Wallid Ismael, who appears to have no problem with that plan.
“Joseph Benavidez was a warrior for accepting to fight him one kilo overweight and deserves the rematch,” Ismail told mmafighting.com. “We like the guy, but on fight week it’s war, man. Since the UFC isn’t satisfied and wants another fight, it’s all good, the war continues.”
In addition to the weight cutting issue there was also an issue before the fight ended where the two men clashed heads, leaving Benavidez with a nasty cut to the forehead that he was seen wiping blood from just a second before he was caught with the final knockout blow, which may also be adding weight to the UFC’s drive to head straight into a second encounter between the two.
Whatever the reason, it seems that Figueiredo and his team are just eager for the bout to take place sooner rather than later.
“We just wanna know when Benavidez wants to fight,” Ismail said. “But, please, don’t take too long.
“We suggest the same July card where Paulo Costa will fight for the belt against the winner of (Israel) Adesanya and (Yoel) Romero.”
