Figueiredo submits Benavidez in first to claim belt

In a rematch of their controversial fight earlier this 12 months, Figueiredo knocked down Joseph Benavidez 3 times after which choked him out at 4:48 of the first spherical in the principle occasion of Sunday’s UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi. With the victory, Figueiredo claimed the vacant UFC flyweight championship.

Figueiredo clipped Benavidez with a proper hand in the opening seconds, then tried to cinch in a rear-naked choke on the bottom. Benavidez valiantly fought it off and obtained to his toes. But he couldn’t do {that a} second time. Figueiredo blasted him with a whipping proper hand in the ultimate minute of the first, then pounced and locked in the submission to earn the title victory. Benavidez did not faucet — he went unconscious and referee Marc Goddard known as the combat.

“I said I was going to break Benavidez and that’s exactly what I did,” Figueiredo stated. “I gave him his first submission on his record and the fight itself was a great show. I gave everyone a show. He didn’t surprise me at all tonight.”

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Coming in, ESPN had Figueiredo ranked as its No. 2 MMA flyweight in the world, and Benavidez No. 3. Figueiredo is now simply the third flyweight champion in UFC historical past, following the legendary Demetrious Johnson and the just lately retired former double champ Henry Cejudo.

Benavidez and Figueiredo first fought on Feb. 29 in Norfolk, Virginia.

The fight was believed to resolve the vacant title, however Figueiredo missed weight by 2.5 kilos. Due to the burden miss, Benavidez was the one who might win the belt in the combat — however Figueiredo ended up stopping Benavidez by TKO in the second spherical.

There was some dispute there, too. Figueiredo’s end got here proper after a conflict of heads that rocked Benavidez, who had received the first spherical. The circumstances led to the UFC granting Benavidez a right away rematch.

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