UFC 256: A Career Making Moment for Both Figueiredo and Moreno

By
Gabriel Gonzalez
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Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno, UFC 256
Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno, UFC 256 weigh-in Credit: Gabriel Gonzalez/Cageside Press

Deiveson Figueiredo is looking to be the man of the moment in 2020, but Brandon Moreno is hoping to make history of his own at UFC 256.

When 2020 began, few could have imagined that it would be a male flyweight who would be on the cusp of potential Fighter of the Year honors.  But as has become the story over the past several months, circumstances have led to an opportunity for prepared fighters to seize the moment and shine.  Deiveson “Deus de Guerra” Figueiredo is one such fighter.  After winning the title in July and defending it just three weeks ago, an encore on Saturday would make him the only UFC champion to record three victories in 2020 and give him the strongest case for Fighter of the Year in a span unlike any in modern history.

It is a testament to his showmanship that he is in the conversation amidst strong years for Israel Adesanya and Khabib Nurmagomedov.  Outside the cage, “The God of War” is a fan of bringing his strong sense of style to his venue arrivals.  Inside the cage, he has turned in three dominant performances that includes an odyssey of epic proportions to reach Fight Island and outdid himself in his second stoppage of Joseph Benavidez to complete his tale of redemption and vindication.  Should he successfully make a historic three week turnaround, it would be hard to deny that he is the fighter to have made the most of what has been tumultuous year for everyone.

It was not a straight line to Saturday for Brandon Moreno.  A top prospect when he was first signed to the UFC in 2016, “The Assassin Baby” rattled off three straight victories before hitting a skid against Sergio Pettis and Alexandre Pantoja.  Though still with a lot of upside and young in his career, Moreno was unceremoniously released in 2018 with other flyweights that had many speculating that the UFC was in the process of shuttering the division.  Though far from ideal, Moreno would make the most of the situation in signing with LFA and competing in Combat Jiu-Jitsu.

2019 saw an abrupt return of the division in the UFC, and Moreno found his way back to the Octagon to face fellow top contender Askar Askarov.  The two fought to a draw, but Moreno has since put together an impressive three fight win-streak over Kai-Kara France, Jussier Formiga, and breakout star Brandon Royval just three weeks ago.  Moreno has had only a few hours more than Figueiredo to rest and reset for Saturday, and a victory would essentially steal the thunder of the Brazilian to close out the year.  Add in the fact that Moreno would be the first Mexican born fighter to win a UFC title, and it would be a career defining turnaround made all the more special by coming in a year of the unexpected.

Though both men have proven to have multi-faceted games, the striking of the champion figures to be tested against the grappling of the challenger.  Figueiredo is amongst the best at controlling distance on the feet and has impressive stopping power for the flyweight division.  Straight punches down the middle will be his best weapon as he wants Moreno at a distance as often as possible.  “The Assassin Baby” will look to take a physical approach and close the distance where he can clinch with Figueiredo and force the fight to the ground where his aggressive attack figures to pose the most problems for the champion.

Former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt continues to make his case for a high profile bout against Saturday’s winner.  It would be tough to deny considering that the next logical contender, Askar Askarov, is already locked into a bout with Joseph Benavidez in March.  Depending on the condition of the winner following the bout, a return in late spring or early summer figures to be the next appearance for the champion.

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