A ‘Mortal’ Figueiredo Is Very good News For The Flyweight Division

For lots of followers top up to December 12th, the principal function of UFC 256 was nearly an afterthought — the token title combat the UFC completely insists upon to cap their advertising spend-per-sights. Flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo would absolutely crush Brandon Moreno, the very same as he crushed Alex Perez 21 days back or Joseph Benavidez back in July. There was a feeling of inevitability encompassing Figueiredo’s defense which (past the guarantee of violence) built it fewer interesting.

Effectively, now that UFC 256 is in the guides I am pleased to report that all those inner thoughts were being illusory. As very good as “Deus da Guerra” is, he’s not invincible. The top rated flyweights will not be lambs to the slaughter and it is now very clear that Figueiredo will facial area a Herculean process keeping onto the 125 pound belt for half as extensive as Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, whose own reign was so dominant it still left the division feeling stagnant and unexciting.

Now right before we continue on, allow me just remind everyone that the majority attract we witnessed among Figueiredo and Moreno was only attainable simply because of a minimal blow position deduction and objectively poor scoring on the part of decide Junichiro Kamijo, who somehow gave Moreno the fifth round. I experienced “Figgy” profitable just about every round besides spherical 4, with two becoming the following closest. But obviously everybody sees these items in another way. Primarily based on the commentary booth, you’d believe Brandon Moreno was in advance on the scorecards the greater part of the bout.

That might not have actually been the circumstance, but the fight Moreno place up and the toughness he exhibited under the constant assault of the flyweight champion was remarkable. The two went back again and forth and Moreno in no way gave an inch or fought like a fighter losing the bout. The instant Figueiredo begun having sloppy and dropping his arms, Moreno manufactured him fork out and harm him terribly in the fourth.

The biggest flyweight fight in the history of the division? Let us permit recency bias fade a minimal and argue about that in six months, once the heady glow of a UFC pay back-per-see that exceeded all anticipations wears off. But it was a excellent battle for sure, a combat which is really worth celebrating as 1 of the greatest of the calendar year. Hopefully it is an additional massive action ahead toward the 125 pound men’s division obtaining the regard it justifies. Ideally UFC president Dana White provides the rematch a right marketing drive and the flyweights quit currently being a two-title celebration afterthought or a convenient substitute.

With Deiveson Figueiredo and challengers like Brandon Moreno, it surely could grow to be the newest sizzling division, taking following featherweight and bantamweight. Deiveson seems to be right and fights right, is all blood and guts and violence. And he’s now mortal sufficient that I doubt folks are likely to acquire each title protection for granted like we did with “Mighty Mouse.”

Yet again, I want to underscore right here: he however whupped Moreno really soundly. It took questionable judging and an accidental groin shot (and apparently a abdomen virus to boot) for Moreno to even pull up to a attract on two scorecards. But searching outside of the 10 level will have to process, that was a hazardous battle and Moreno was correct there ready to consider a victory with each trade.

There is no much more disregarding it: the flyweight division is hella exciting. If the UFC truly will get at the rear of their 125 pound warriors, we could at last see them get their owing.