This November, the UFC has announced a huge double header featuring some of the most in form fighters across divisions.
In the main event, Brazilian powerhouse Deiveson Figueiredo will go into his first title defence of his flyweight champion status against surging California star, Alex Perez.
Claiming the flyweight crown, Figueiredo defeated Joseph Benavidez by technical submission in the first round of a Fight Night in July earlier this year. That brings his win streak to his last four fights, including three straight by submission or TKO.
Perez is an up and coming star, but has been on an upwards trajectory for a while. Since his last loss to Benavidez in November 2018, he’s won three consecutive fights with first round stoppages over Jordan Espinosa and Jussier Formiga in the last two.
Figueiredo has made it clear that he doesn’t think Perez is a major threat heading into the card.
“I don’t get scared by opponents,” Figueiredo said during an interview with MMA Fighting. “With all due respect, Cody Garbrandt would have been a more dangerous fight for me, but I was training to knock him out. Unfortunately he got hurt, and I hope he recovers quickly so we can make this fight happen.”
“They put Alex Perez in, and I don’t see many qualities in him,” Figueiredo said. “I’m training really hard as if I was fighting Garbrandt. You can be sure that I’ll train hard to knock him out. Based on what I’ve seen, Alex Perez’s style favors me. He’s slow, I see no danger in him. That’s why I’m training to knock him out in the first round.”
Announced as the co-main bout, Valentina Shevchenko, one of the most dominant forces in the sport, will defend her flyweight title for the fourth time against Brazilian, Jennifer Maia.
Arguably the best women’s fighter of all time in the UFC outside of Amanda Nunes, ‘The Bullet’ has been the flyweight champion since beating Joanna Jedrzejczyk in UFC 231 in December 2018, meaning we’re coming up to two years of pure dominance for the flyweight crown.
Maia is still looking to establish herself after compiling a 3-2 record in five UFC fights, putting together a best performance in August submitting Joanne Calderwood with an arm bar in the first round.
Two huge title defenses, with two champions looking to settle themselves even further into the title-holder status. Who will walk out with the belt? Watch all the action at the Official Home of UFC, live and free.
MAIN CARD
Flyweight Title Fight
Deiveson Figueiredo vs Alex Perez
Women’s Flyweight Title Fight
Valentina Shevchenko vs Jennifer Maia
UNDER CARD
Welterweight Bout
Mike Perry vs Tim Means
Women’s Flyweight Bout
Katlyn Chookagian vs Cynthia Calvillo
Light Heavyweight Bout
Mauricio Rua vs Paul Craig