Highlights! Figueiredo Brutally Stops Bloody Benavidez

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Deiveson Figueiredo may not have won the vacant UFC flyweight championship last night (Sat., Feb. 29, 2020) at UFC Fight Night 169 live on ESPN+ from inside Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Virginia, but he still proved to the best 125-pound fighter on the roster after taking out veteran Joseph Benavidez with a gnarly second-round knockout.

Benavidez faced an early scare as Figueiredo almost sunk in a fight-ending armbar attempt one minute into the first. The Brazilian looked to be the much stronger and precise fighter in most of the ensuing exchanges, but Benavidez was still able to rush in and land some big right hands to stick around.

The second round began with two big rights by Figueiredo that checked Benavidez early. Benavidez was having some success mixing it up to the body and legs, but was inadvertently cut open by a headbutt during an exchange inside. Blood instantly started to pour out of the veteran’s head as Figueiredo rushed in for a huge right hand that viciously slumped Benavidez. Figueiredo landed a flurry of punches to a downed “Joe B-Wan Kenobi” before the stoppage was made.

Check out the video highlights below courtesy of UFC/ESPN.

This was a spectacular performance for Figueiredo in his first ever UFC main event, but it doesn’t bode well for the already struggling flyweight division. The title remains vacant moving forward and the rumors will continue to swirl about 2020 being the year the weight class finally dissolves.

For complete UFC Norfolk results and coverage click here.