UFC president Dana White still plans on crowning a new flyweight champion.
This past Saturday at UFC on ESPN+ 27, Joseph Benavidez took on Deiveson Figueiredo for the vacant 125-pound title, with Benavidez the only one eligible to win the belt because of Figueiredo missing weight.
Figueiredo went on to knock out Benavidez in the second round after an accidental head butt dazed Benavidez, leading to the finish. Because of the unfortunate sequence of events, White says the plan is to run the fight back.
“That was a great fight, absolutely I think the head butt had a lot to do with the knockout, too,” White told reporters Tuesday in Las Vegas. “Not taking anything away from him (Figueiredo), it was a great fight, but I think they have to do that fight again. First of all, he didn’t make weight, (and) Joe still fought him. There was a head butt, so a lot of controversy in that fight, but it was a great fight.
“Both guys came to fight. I’m sure you guys know how I feel about him not making weight, but we’ll do it again. They both deserve it.”
While talk of getting rid of the flyweight division has intensified since UFC Norfolk ended, for now it appears the promotion’s plan is to keep things intact. Benavidez, who won the first round against Figueiredo on all three judges’ scorecards, will get his fourth crack at the title if the fight materializes.
