MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the UFC’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main event for UFC on ESPN+ 30.
UFC on ESPN+ 30 takes place Saturday at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The event airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
Deivison Figueiredo (18-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC)
Staple info:
- Height: 5’5″ Age: 32 Weight: 125 lbs. Reach: 68″
- Last fight: TKO win over Joseph Benavidez (Feb. 29, 2020)
- Camp: Figueired Team (Brazil)
- Stance/striking style: Switch-stance/muay Thai
- Risk management: Good
Supplemental info:
+ Regional MMA accolades
+ Regional grappling accolades
+ 9 KO victories
+ 6 submission wins
+ 9 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Well-timed right hands/uppercuts
^ Coming forward or off the counter
+ Slicing elbows from multiple ranges
+ Strong inside the clinch
+ Improved wrestling ability
^ Defensively and offensively
+ Works well from topside
^ Devastating ground striker
+ Underrated submission ability
^ Dangerous guillotine choke
Joseph Benavidez (28-6 MMA, 15-4 UFC)
Staple info:
- Height: 5’4″ Age: 35 Weight: 125 lbs. Reach: 65″
- Last fight: TKO loss to Deivison Figueiredo (Feb. 29, 2020)
- Camp: UFC Performance Institute (Las Vegas, NV)
- Stance/striking style: Switch-stance/kickboxing
- Risk management: Good
Supplemental info:
+ Joe-Jitsu specialist
+ State wrestling champion of New Mexico
+ 8 KO victories
+ 9 submission wins
+ 7 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Consistent pace and pressure
+ Good feints and footwork
^ Elusive counters or corralling combos
+ Heavy right hand
+ Hard body and calf kicks
+ Superb scrambling ability
^ Urgent get-ups/great reversals
+ Strong from front-headlock position
^ Threatens guillotines/dictates position
+/- 2-2 in rematches
Point of interest: Striking the second time around
The main event for UFC on ESPN+ 30 features a rematch for the vacant flyweight title.
Before a controversial headbutt arguably helped end the first meeting between Deivison Figueiredo and Joseph Benavidez, we were privy to a fun first round that was packed with intense exchanges and fun scrambles.
Although I was surprised to see all three judges score opposite of Figueiredo and his hard counters and submission attempt, I can also understand how an MMA judge – given their traditional trends towards output – could be swayed by Benavidez’s style.
Among the first of his former Team Alpha Male stable to functionally implement shifts into his footwork, Benavidez has done a bang-up job in regards to adding or adjusting his game so that he can keep up with his contemporaries and the sport itself. In fact, the 14-year vet has smoothly integrated his version of a stick-and-move style in spirit, displaying the ability to hit hard counters from either stance.
Coupled with Benavidez’s patented bodywork and newly-involved calf kicks (something that was clearly in the game plan for Figueiredo the first time), and he remains a fully-fledged threat on the feet. That said, Benavidez’s high-volume approach to offense has shown that it can open him up to hard counters early, something that was prevalent in the first fight with Figueiredo, who fought with a scary composure that night.
Appearing to be a pressure-fighting wildman on the Brazilian regional scene, Figueiredo has seemingly sharpened his style and approach since touching down in the UFC octagon. The 32-year-old contender still relies heavily upon his head and trunk movement but will now add a long-framing defense from both stances, as well as flick out more jabs and straight shots to help establish his range.
This approach both accentuates Figueiredo’s length, as well as entices risky entries from his opposition that open them up for the Brazilian’s powerful counters. Whether he’s unloading counter crosses or uppercuts, Figueiredo demonstrates stellar timing and anticipation to go along with a power that flyweight hasn’t seen since the days of John Lineker.
Should Benavidez slip too slowly or fade to Figueiredo’s power side, then we could see the trajectory of this fight, once again, shift on a dime.
Next point of interest: Giving the grappling another go
Point of interest: Giving the grappling another go
In the first round of their first encounter, we not only saw Figueiredo out-wrestle Benavidez, but we also witnessed the Brazilian bruiser pull out a slick submission catch within one of their scrambles.
Though the armbar attempt was certainly a legitimate threat, Benavidez did the right things to address and clear the submission attack as he kept the scramble going. Still, that exchange served as a proper warning shot for anyone who sleeps on the grappling diversity of Figueiredo.
Despite being more known for his striking threats on the feet, Figueiredo – who earned multiple grappling accolades during his time spent under Marajo Brothers Team – translates his power just fine in the grappling department.
More of a positional-based player, Figueiredo likes to apply himself both in the clinch and from topside, as he seems to take great pleasure in making his opposition feel his weight and strength. We saw a beautiful example of this in their first meeting when Figueiredo defended takedowns from the clinch, as he did a great job of breaking grips and framing off hips, not-so-subtly using his head to re-steer Benavidez towards the fence.
However, in Benavidez’s defense, he showed little-to-no discouragement in these tough spots, as the perennial top contender was able to separate and get right back on the clock.
Aside from the previously mentioned footwork and movement, Benavidez can be difficult to secure in a clinch due to his awareness of when and how to leave, as well as when to stay and play.
Sure, Figueiredo technically won what little wrestling and submission exchanges happened in their last encounter; I’m just still not sold on how willing he will be to give his neck in a takedown attempt or scramble considering Benavidez’s killer guillotine choke and acumen from the front-headlock position.
As far as ground striking goes, I do give a slight edge to Figueiredo for his ability to find slicing elbows from top or bottom. The potential problem, however, is that I’m not sure how easy Benavidez will be to hold in place.
One of the best scramblers this sport has seen throughout the past decade, Benavidez plays a beautiful high-risk, high-reward game that is fun to watch.
Similar to his original MMA mentor, Urijah Faber, Benavidez has no issue giving his back to get off of it whenever finding himself grounded.
Savvy from the turtle position, Benavidez is quick to establish an underhook for safety and smartly works for single-legs to reset whenever they become available. And when a fighter is slick enough to insert a hook and establish a legitimate back-take threat, Benavidez is quick to get gravity on his side by putting his opposition between him and the mat, as he diligently works out and turns into his foe (all while cleverly underhooking their leg to deny them leverage during the reversal).
If Figueiredo sells out on a guillotine or opts for any sort of takedown offense, he’ll still need to be on his best behavior and stay mindful of Benavidez’s strengths; otherwise, he may find himself slowly sinking in a special brand of flyweight quicksand as the rounds go on.
Next point of interest: Odds, opinion and prediction
Point of interest: Odds and opinions
The oddsmakers and public are siding with the Brazilian this time around, listing Figueiredo -220 and Benavidez +180 as of this writing.
Considering that I gave Figueiredo the first round of their first fight, then I can totally understand a betting spread that has the Brazilian favored.
Figueiredo has long been a dark horse whom I’ve had my eye on (as I’m still convinced that he’s destined to do battle with Petr Yan at bantamweight sometime down the line), so seeing him win this fight and/or the last one is not something that should surprise anyone.
Nevertheless, despite the last result, I still think that the dynamic of this fight remains the same: If Benavidez can get past the power of Figueiredo in the first couple of rounds, then his deeper well of both tools and experience should serve him well.
Now, given the arguable momentum Figueiredo had in the first fight, I can’t blame anyone for following history and siding with the winning (as well as the younger) party to win the second time around. That said, before the controversial head butt happened, you could also argue that Benavidez demonstrated the ability to take multiple hard counters from Figueiredo and showed little-to-no signs of discouragement, as he got right back on the game plan like the veteran he is.
I’d be lying if I denied the fact that a little bias is probably bleeding into this pick, but I believe that Benavidez’s pace and bodywork will have even more play this time around given the rigorous travel schedule and pressure-filled weight cut that Figueiredo has had to put himself through. So, for that reason, I’ll reluctantly side with Benavidez surviving the early storm to either find a finish late or out-point the Brazilian on the scorecards.
.jpg?w=600)
