The hastily made UFC 256 main event between Figueiredo and Moreno turned out to be one of the greatest fights in UFC history.

The flyweight title bout was made on three weeks’ notice after both men won at UFC 255, and the duo put on a bout that will place high on the list for “Fight of the Year.”

After a 25-minute whirlwind of action, a point deduction spelled the difference, as Figueiredo who lost a point in the third round due to a low blow, retained the belt in a majority draw. The judges scores were 47-46 for Figueiredo and a pair of 47-47 marks.

The opening round saw Figueiredo, who had won each of his past four bouts inside of seven minutes, not showing much respect for Moreno, as he stood right in front of the challenger and landed shots to the head and body. But Moreno stayed composed and started landing crisp straight hands of his own, making it clear he wasn’t going to be bullied.

Moreno, a Tijuana native who was looking to become the first Mexican-born champion in UFC history, gained in confidence in the second round and became more assertive. Another back-and-forth standup round ensued, with a pair of Moreno takedowns likely making the difference.

The wild and frenetic pace continued in the third. Figueiredo continued landing body shots and kicks. Moreno began landing more frequently. Figueiredo then landed a bullseye of a groin kick. It was his second foul, after an eye poke in the second, and ref Jason Herzog deducted a point.

WE ARE NOT WORTHY OF THIS FIGHT 🤯 WHAT IS HAPPENING!? #UCF256 pic.twitter.com/WFYWDxLOmY

— UFC (@ufc) December 13, 2020

The fourth round was won of the wildest in the history of the sport, a malestrom of violence, with the Brazilian and Mexican both fighting with a spirit that did their countries proud.

In the fifth, Moreno appeared to favor a left arm injury of some sort, which slowed him down, and this enabled a tiring Figueiredo to land enough to take the round and save his belt.

After the bout, Figueiredo reveled he was in the hospital with food poisoning until 2 a.m. Saturday. He also would not criticize Herzog’s decision to deduct a point.

“The ref did his job,” he said through an interpreter. “I throw the low kick on accident, and it’s not my job do say what he should do.”

With the draw result, both competitors ran their current unbeaten streaks to six: Figueiredo at 5-0-1, Moreno 4-0-2.

Both fighters indicated an interest in a rematch afterwards, and it’s expected to materialize in 2021.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/fight-of-the-month-december-2020-deiveson-figueiredo-brandon-moreno-ufc-256

Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier fought their first bout in September of 2014. They were on the undercard to Demetrious Johnson’s UFC flyweight title defense against Chris Cariaso at UFC 178.

McGregor starched Poirier in 1:46 of the first round.

Both have since gone on to become UFC champions, McGregor in two different divisions.

They are now set to rematch at UFC 257 on Jan. 23 in Abu Dhabi; the UFC’s first pay-per-view event of 2021.

Watch the first match-up between Poirier and McGregor back at UFC 178 in 2014 when both fighters were featherweights on the rise.

(Courtesy of UFC)

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Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/watch-conor-mcgregor-starch-dustin-poirier-in-first-fight-ahead-of-ufc-257-rematch

Watch the conclusion of the trilogy between heavyweights Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier that headlined UFC 252 in August. Their first two fights ended in finishes, but the third went the distance.

Moicic won the bout to retain his title, while it was Cormier’s final career bout.

(Courtesy of UFC)

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Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/watch-stipe-miocic-send-daniel-cormier-into-retirement-at-ufc-252

UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic faced the sternest test of his championship credentials when he faced Daniel Cormier, but over the course of three epic meetings, it was the Ohio native who came through victorious.

In their first outing, Cormier stunned Miocic by knocking him out in Round 1 and taking his heavyweight title at UFC 226. But Miocic was able to exact his revenge in the rematch at UFC 241 by stopping Cormier in Round 4 to regain his title.

With the score tied at one win apiece, Miocic faced Daniel Cormier at UFC 252 in August and after both men claimed stoppage victories in the first two meetings, the trilogy fight proved to be a different encounter, with the pair battling all the way to the scorecards.

Miocic used his most effective tool from their rematch, attacking Cormier’s body early. He set the tone with some hard leg kicks and a snapping jab, but Cormier was able land a big right hand at the end of the round which appeared to briefly rock Miocic.

Miocic continued to be the busier striker, with Cormier throwing the heavier shots. At the end of Round 2, it was Miocic who finished strong, dropping Cormier and raining down punches, but the former two-division champion was saved by the bell.

The pace slowed in Round 3 and, after Miocic struck Cormier with an inadvertent eye poke, Cormier’s vision was compromised for the rest of the fight. Miocic was able to cruise through the latter rounds to earn a unanimous decision win and close out the trilogy in his favor.

Miocic (20-3 MMA, 14-3 UFC) is expected to rematch Francis Ngannou in March, where he’ll look to replicate his dominant performance from their first outing at UFC 220 in 2018.

But before Miocic returns to action, check out his trilogy-settling performance against Cormier via the video above.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/ufc-free-fight-stipe-miocic-defeats-daniel-cormier-ufc-252

Aleksandar Rakic sees Israel Adesanya as a good addition to the light heavyweight division.

UFC middleweight champion Adesanya will attempt to simultaneously hold titles in two weight divisions when he faces light heavyweight champ Jan Blachowicz in the main event of UFC 259 on March 6.

Considering Adesanya’s star power, Rakic (13-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) thinks it would be beneficial for him personally if the Kiwi can become the light heavyweight champion.

“For me, it’s a good thing,” Rakic told MMA Junkie. “If he becomes the champion and he’s a two-division champion, then he’s gonna need to face me and it’s not gonna be a good night for him. All his legacy and all his credit is gonna come to me.”

Rakic is scheduled to face former title challenger Thiago Santos on the same night, where he’ll look to cement himself as the next title challenger. However, Glover Teixeira is waiting in the wings and, while Rakic admits that Teixeira should have been next in line, he understands the UFC’s decision to give the title shot to Adesanya.

“Glover is an amazing fighter and he’s on a five-fight winning streak and for me, he deserves the title shot,” Rakic said. “But the UFC decides what they want and for the promotion and for the marketing, of course, it’s Adesanya and Blachowicz. It’s better to sell for the people and it’s gonna be very interesting to see Adesanya in the light heavyweight division because the weight class between middleweight and light heavyweight is huge.

“We have like nine kilos – from 84 kgs to 93 kgs. This is nine kilos in between and those nine kilos, you can feel the power. The light heavyweight division, we are strong, but we are also fast. I don’t want to say middleweights aren’t strong, but it’s gonna be very interesting.”

Despite Adesanya (20-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) opening as the betting favorite against Blachowicz, Rakic thinks the odds should be a lot closer. Either way, he’ll certainly have his eyes peeled on the night.

“Jan Blachowicz he’s a very tough guy and a very strong guy,” Rakic said. “I see this fight 50-50. It’s gonna be very interesting for me, and I’m gonna watch closely, first row, to see who’s gonna be my next opponent in the future.”

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/01/ufc-news-aleksandar-rakic-on-israel-adesanya-as-light-heavyweight