December’s flyweight world title bout between champion Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno was, in a lot of people’s eyes at least, the best fight of 2020 — and now they’re both set to do it all over again.
Following a report by ESPN, further sources have confirmed that the matchup is in place despite it not yet being officially announced by the promotion. The fight is expected to serve as the main event to the UFC’s June 12 card, which doesn’t yet have any further information — including a location — attached to it.
Figueiredo claimed the UFC’s 125-pound title on the second attempt of asking when he beat Joseph Benavidez by first-round rear naked choke last July — repeating the win that he had over the American the previous February. However on that occasion Figueiredo missed weight and was ineligible to claim the vacant world title.
He defended the belt in November against Alex Perez but then took another fight just weeks later against top contender Moreno, with the fight ultimately declared a draw after five rounds of back and forth action.
Figueiredo came close to winning the fight, in fact, but a point deduction for an inadvertent groin strike cost him the nod on the judges’ scorecards.
This time though, both fighters will have an opportunity to confirm that they are the true standout at 125-pounds — and fight fans will be hoping that the bout contains just as much excitement as their initial scrap at the end of last year.
