A new strategy and a new team helped lead Deiveson Figueiredo back to the flyweight title after winning a unanimous decision over Brandon Moreno in the UFC 270 co-main event.
It was a stellar performance from both combatants but it was Figueiredo’s power punches that dropped Moreno to the canvas multiple times over five rounds that likely helped the Brazilian secure the victory. When the scores were tallied, all three judges gave the fight 48-47 to Figueiredo as he reclaims the 125-pound title in his third battle against Moreno.
Figueiredo declared, with his title on the shoulder, “Today’s my day.” It’s mine day. Thank you so much Brandon Moreno. Brandon Moreno is my fourth opponent in Mexico .
THE GOD OF WAR RECAPTURES THE BELT
[ @Daico_Deiveson | #UFC270 ] pic.twitter.com/rQcjcNNAGv
— UFC (@ufc) January 23, 2022
Looking for a better start than the rematch, Figueiredo looked to establish some early leg kicks but Moreno showed great patience while firing back with some quick counters that backed off the Brazilian. Figueiredo was devoted to the calf kicks and continued to label Moreno until the end of round 1.
Figueiredo continued to dig to that lead leg while Moreno targeted the head with some fast and explosive punches that came from different angles. Figueiredo began to put more power behind his punches as Moreno increased his output. This led to solid left-hand landing flush.
In return Moreno launched a multi-strike combo with a jab, a lefthand over the top and a right hand that passed through Figueiredo and seemed to shake him for at most momentarily.
As the third round got started, Figueiredo cracked Moreno with a hard shot that sent the flyweight champion stumbling backwards before ultimately rolling and getting back to his feet. Figueiredo continued pushing forward and Moreno responded by hitting him with punches, including one that left the Brazilian in a daze.
The left hand kept paying off, but just before the horn went off Figueiredo drained a huge right hand and sat Moreno to his knees. Time ran out before Figueiredo could capitalize but that helped him stunt whatever momentum Moreno had started to build.
Despite being dropped, Moreno did not slow down in the championship rounds as he sought to secure his first title defense. Figueiredo and Moreno were constantly combining, but Moreno became the more active fighter as Figueiredo began to slow down.
Moreno pushed the pace, with Figueiredo less resigned to throwing a single power punch at once while keeping his hands up to avoid Moreno’s quick hands. Just when it looked like the momentum was swinging towards Moreno with time ticking towards the end of the fight, Figueiredo fired off another powerful right hand that puts the Mexican born flyweight down on the canvas before he quickly bounced back up to his feet.
Figueiredo was connected late with two other hard right hands, but Moreno simply invited him to a fight. This resulted “The Assassin Baby”, who unleashed some vicious punches and also connected flush. While Moreno certainly made a strong showing late, it was Figueiredo’s ability to hurt him earlier in the round that likely swayed the judges in the end.
” I feel like I was able to throw better combinations and with greater speed,” Moreno stated after the fight. He may have connected more with power.
” Although I think I won, it’s what it is. I felt like he did a better game plan. It felt like I had a faster pace to the fight. I need to watch the fight again to see what happened.”
After their first encounter ended in a draw, with Moreno winning a rematch and Figueiredo taking revenge in the trilogy fights, it will be extremely difficult to avoid another fight between flyweights. That may not sound like much fun to the rest of the contenders at 125 pounds but it would appear inevitable that Figueiredo and Moreno will meet again before 2022 is over.
