It seemed like the majority of the mixed martial arts community was rooting for Joseph Benavidez to finally win UFC gold at UFC Norfolk. However, the MMA gods had other plans.
Benavidez and Deiveson Figueiredo headlined the UFC Norfolk event, where the vacant flyweight title was supposed to be awarded to the winner. Unfortunately, Figueiredo missed weight and was ineligible to win the title. Benavidez, who did make the weight, was eligible, but couldn’t get the job done.
Both men exchanged heavy shots in the early moments of the first round. Figueiredo actually nearly had an armbar sunk in, but Benavidez was able to scramble out of it. Benavidez finished the round strong with some big shots connecting, but wasn’t able to but his Brazilian counterpart away. In the second round, Benavidez again continued to stay trading with Figueiredo in the pocket.
However, a headbutt caused a big cut on the head of Benavidez, who begun bleeding profusely. Immediately after, Figueiredo landed a big straight right hand down the middle that planted Benavidez down to the canvas. The referee was then forced to step in and call the action off. Unfortunately, because Figueiredo came in overweight, the UFC is still without a flyweight champion.
Check out how the pros reacted to Figueiredo’s big win over Benavidez here:
Nooooooooo 😩 #UFCNorfolk
— Tatiana Suarez (@tatianaufc) March 1, 2020
Heartbroken for joe. A true gem and legend in this sport #UFCNorfolk
— éS (@EricSpicely) March 1, 2020
Omg 😳 too bad he didn’t make weight. I hope @JoeJitsu is all good 🙏🏼 #UFCNorfolk
— Niko Price (@Nikohybridprice) March 1, 2020
Damn… Figueiredo just looked too big and strong against Joe, and when you miss weight it’s hard not to think it didn’t play a part in things.
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) March 1, 2020
Not my champ! Your ass still gotta make weight lol
— Tim Elliott (@TElliott125) March 1, 2020
😔
— Dan “50k” Ige (@Dynamitedan808) March 1, 2020
That sucks. #UFCNorfolk
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) March 1, 2020
The average person will never understand the advantage that missing weight gives you. It’s huge. Imagine starving yourself day after for weeks/months on end. Depleting your muscles of all the salts & water it needs to properly function, but still needing to go out there and 1/2
— Louis Smolka (@LASTSAMURAIUFC) March 1, 2020
