The highly anticipated rematch between UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno could take place in April or May.
The pair fought last month at UFC 256 in Las Vegas and the fight ended up in a majority draw. The fight was a highly entertaining one with both fighters trading leathers with each other throughout the fight.
Amongst the three judges, only Derek Cleary scored the fight for Deiveson Figueiredo (48-46). The other two judges Sal D’Amato and Junichiro Kamijo scored the fight a draw (47-47).
There was also a one-point deduction for Deiveson Figueiredo in the third round after a low blow. With that being said, UFC president Dana White, Fight fans around the world and the fighters themselves want a rematch.
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Now during a live Q/A session with Laura Sanko on ESPN+, fans asked Dana White about the timeline of the rematch.
“April or May,” White said (h/t MMAFighting.com).
Last month following the fight, in an interview with MMAFighting, Deiveson Figueiredo analysed his first fight with Brandon Moreno and stated that he won the fight despite the one-point deduction.
“Analyzing every round, I won all rounds,” Figueiredo said in an interview with MMA Fighting. “Unfortunately, I don’t know what happened for them not to give me the [win]. There was that point deduction, but even with a draw in that round, I still won all rounds. Now I’ll go back for this rematch and break Moreno so there is no doubt anymore.”
“I didn’t give him one single round,” Figueiredo disagreed. “I walked forward the entire time, attacking Moreno. I had an immediate answer for every attack he gave. To me, in my concept, I won all five rounds.”
However, Figueiredo isn’t planning on leaving it to the judges in the second fight and he has promised a completely different fight.
“I want this rematch so it leaves no doubt,” Deiveson Figueiredo said. “I want to be well and show my work. That guy that fought Moreno, that wasn’t me. He can be sure of that. I’ll train hard for him now and it will be a completely different fight.”
Deiveson Figueiredo spent the night before the fight in the hospital
He also revealed that he had spent the night before the fight in a hospital and he isn’t sure about the reason behind it.
“I had that infection that almost took me out of the fight,” Figueiredo said. “My father taught me to be a man and I didn’t want to pull out. I said to myself, I want to fight and bring this win home.
“I was warming up and had no idea what would happen in this fight. I had a feeling it would be a tough one because that infection completely took me out of the game. Inside me I knew I wouldn’t be able to be the fighter I am. I like to finish people, but something inside of me said it wouldn’t be easy — and that’s what really happened.”
Who do you guys think wins in the rematch?