After two hotly contested fights, Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo are set to fight for the UFC flyweight title for the third time at UFC 270 on January 22. The fight will take place inside the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Figueiredo made his UFC debut in 2017. He fought Joseph Benavidez twice for the UFC flyweight title. The 34-year-old boxer lost weight in the first fight against Benavidez, which prevented him from winning the title. In the rematch, he cleanly beat Benavidez to win the belt.
Moreno joined the UFC in 2016, but the promotion let him go in 2018 after suffering just two losses. He joined the LFA and impressed the UFC bosses so much in his debut fight there that he returned to the promotion in 2019.
At UFC 256, the two fought to a draw, and at UFC 263, Moreno submitted Figueiredo in the third round. Only one man can call himself the UFC flyweight champion! Moreno hopes to end the rivalry between the two, while Figueiredo looks to recapture his former glory.
Sporting News is reviewing the fight and providing betting information on the matchup.
UFC 270 odds for Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
According to the FanDuel bookmaker, Figueiredo is the underdog +144, which means that a bet of $70 would result in you winning $100. A bet of $144 will result in you winning around $207. Moreno is the -178 favorite, which means a bet of $178 would result in you winning $100.
Figueiredo was the -330 favorite going into his first fight at UFC 256 with Moreno the +265 underdog. In the rematch at UFC 263, Figueiredo was the -250 favorite compared to Moreno at +205.
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Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo support bets
- Moreno via KO/TKO: +460
- Moreno via Decision: +270
- Moreno via Shipment: +300
- Figueiredo via KO/TKO: +460
- Figueiredo via Decision: +500
- Figueiredo through the presentation: +750
Brandon Moreno vs. Prediction of Deiveson Figueiredo
Flyweights are on paper, and these two fighters have been a huge help in making that happen. Figueiredo has shown the size advantage in the past. In his most recent training sessions, he has looked like a different fighter. Moreno, however, has never relied on what was built, but on the heart. Skill can be a factor compared to anything else. Who has the advantage?
Both fighters have soaked up a significant amount of damage in their runs and can dish it out as well. When it comes to significant strikes landed per minute, Moreno has a slight advantage with about 3.44, while Figueiredo has landed 3.24. The latter has an advantage in hitting accuracy at 56% compared to Moreno’s 39%, but Moreno’s significant punch defense (58%) can give him an edge against Figueiredo’s power. The former champion has a 49% attack defense. Moreno has a two-inch reach advantage, but Figueiredo has been known to strike at any time. If he gets you to make a mistake, it could end right there. Figueiredo and Moreno set the single-fight record for a UFC flyweight bout at UFC 256 with a combined 269 significant strikes landed.
One thing to watch out for if you’re Figueiredo is Moreno’s running game. Moreno has managed around 2.05 takedowns per 15 minutes compared to 1.54 for Figueiredo. While the latter has an advantage in takedown accuracy (52% over 47%), Moreno’s takedown defense (65%) is higher than Figueiredo’s (58%). At UFC 256, Moreno got four takedowns to two from Figueiredo, and at UFC 263, Moreno got two to one, submitting him to win the title.
MORE: Everything you need to know about UFC 270
Figueiredo’s weight remains a major concern. It hasn’t been easy for Figueiredo to compete at flyweight recently, as he dropped the weight in 2020 against Benavidez. At other points, he has looked fragile and many have said it’s time for him to change divisions. However, with former UFC bantamweight and flyweight champion Henry Cejudo in his corner, Figueiredo might have found the right balance to guide him on his weight journey.
Will the fact that Cejudo is helping Figueiredo affect Moreno? If the champion can block out all distractions, it may be the tiniest part of the fight.
On a roll since the UFC cut him short in 2018 (5-0-2 since then), the momentum may be on the 28-year-old Moreno’s side. Moreno’s pressure and quickness in their last fight was able to bring down Figueiredo. Figueiredo could try to jump into action right away, but Moreno may already be ready for that. Based on everything we’ve seen and how resilient he can be, Moreno may end up making two in a row against Figueiredo.
Sporting News Prediction: Brandon Moreno via submission (+300)
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.