Deiveson Figueiredo had no sooner finished his flyweight title fight with Alex Perez at UFC 255 than talk turned to his next opponent. And by the end of the event, it looked like a fight was in place.
In a very surprising move, UFC President Dana White announced during the UFC 255 post-fight press conference that Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno would happen in just under a month’s time.
“We’re going to keep [Figueiredo] here. He’s not going back to Brazil. We’re going to turn him right around,” said White, confirming that Moreno would get the next title shot. If all goes as planned, White said the pair will fight in December.
UFC 256, the promotion’s next Pay-per-View event, goes down on December 12. A week later, on December 19, the final event of 2020 is scheduled to take place. Both are booked for the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Either would serve as a suitable landing spot for the flyweight pair. “It will be one of those,” White later confirmed.
Once a division on life support, without much love from the promotion, flyweight is now a whole new ball game. “If you don’t like this guy, stop watching fights,” White said of the dominant Brazilian champion backstage on Saturday. “You need to find a new hobby if you don’t like watching him.”
The “God of War” is now 20-1 as a pro, after a slick guillotine submission of title challenger Alex Perez at UFC 255. The fight was over and done with in under two minutes. Cody Garbrandt is still on the horizon, but it looks like it’s Brandon Moreno next for Deiveson Figueiredo.
Moreno (18-5-1) won his own fight at UFC 255, finishing Brandon Royval.
Update: ESPN confirms that UFC 256 on December 12 is the date for Figueiredo vs. Moreno.
