UFC Fight Island 2: Deiveson Figueiredo destroys Joseph Benavidez with ‘pure violence’ to claim flyweight belt
- Brazilian leaves no doubt with a first-round submission win by rear-naked choke after three knock-downs
- ‘I’m used to growing up with all the wild animals. I think I got some of that from them. I’m a ferocious guy,’ says Figueiredo
If there was any doubt the first time, Deiveson Figueiredo made sure no one can question him now as the undisputed UFC flyweight champion.
There was plenty of bad blood coming into Sunday’s UFC Fight Island 2 main event in Abu Dhabi. Figueiredo missed weight for his bout against Joseph Benavidez on March 1, ruling him ineligible to win the vacant flyweight title. The Brazilian then knocked Benavidez down and got the second-round TKO, after a clash of heads had cut the American open.
Benavidez made it clear he wanted to “hurt” Figueiredo this time around but this was as one-sided a title fight as we have seen in the UFC.
Figeuiredo (19-1) knocked Benavidez (28-7) down three times and submitted him for the first time in his career, via rear-naked choke with 12 seconds left in the first round – albeit at the fourth attempt, with the American showing true heart and survival instincts to stay in there.
“I’m a guy from Marajo island in Brazil, the Amazon region. I’m used to growing up with all the wild animals. I think I got some of that from them. I’m a ferocious guy in the Octagon,” Figueiredo said in his post-fight interview.