Moreno beats Figueiredo for second time in title bout
The two were squaring off for a fourth time
Brandon Moreno beat Deiveson Figueiredo in the UFC flyweight championship for the second time, with the latter sustaining a serious eye injury.
The two fought each other for the first time in 2020 when Figueiredo defended his championship after a draw with Moreno. However, Morena could've won the title, but a deducted point over an illegal groin strike cost him the honour.
When Moreno choked him out in their rematch, Figueiredo lost the belt; however, he got it back in their trilogy bout in January 2022.
As the fourth match began, Moreno attempted a takedown and succeeded in turning Figueiredo over, but the Brazilian successfully defended and swiftly stood up again. As both fighters tried to figure out each other out, the remainder of the opening round was mostly uneventful. When Figueiredo attempted a leg lock after being taken down once more, Moreno protested about an unwarranted kick from him.
Moreno had a strong second round in which he once more knocked Figueiredo to the ground and nearly applied a guillotine choke, but Figueiredo successfully defended himself.
Although Figueiredo did score several excellent elbows off Moreno's back while being out-grappled by him, he was probably down two rounds and needed to alter his strategy.
When Moreno connected with a left hook, Figueiredo's eye swelled up, and the Brazilian complained that Moreno had poked his opponent in the eye illegally, a claim that was refuted by the instant replay.
The cageside doctor determined Figueiredo was not fit to continue because his eye was swelled shut before the fourth round began, and Moreno was declared the victor.
The Brazilian audience, unsurprisingly, booed Moreno while he delivered his post-fight interview.
The newly crowned champion said: "I understand the people [booing] but the people need to understand that I am just trying to put food on the table for my family. I was trying to use a good game plan for this fight because I was very emotional for the last one."
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