UFC Notebook: Figueiredo Wins Flyweight Title, Adesanya vs. Costa Set for September

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Deiveson Figueiredo made short work of Joseph Benavidez to win the vacant UFC flyweight championship on Sunday at UFC Fight Night on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.

Figueiredo Benavidez UFC Adesanya Nurmagomedov
Deiveson Figueiredo submitted Joseph Benavidez in the first round on Saturday to win the UFC flyweight title. (Image: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa/Getty)

Figueiredo dominated the entirety of the first round before winning by submission when he choked out Benavidez at the 4:48 mark.

Figueiredo Dominant Throughout Title Fight

Benavidez (28-7) tried to make it to the end of the round, refusing to tap. However, referee Marc Goddard stepped in to stop the fight before the round ended.

Figueiredo (19-1) scored three knockdowns and made several submission attempts during the round. Many observers – and likely at least some of the three judges – were prepared to score the first round 10-7 in Figueiredo’s favor before the stoppage.

“I said I was going to break Benavidez, and that’s exactly what I did,” Figueiredo said after the fight. “I gave him his first submission on his record, and the fight itself was a great show.”

Figueiredo defeated Benavidez in their first matchup on Feb. 29. However, Figueiredo missed weight for that bout, making him ineligible for the flyweight title that Henry Cejudo vacated.

Adesanya, Costa to Fight for Middleweight Title at UFC 253

Israel Adesanya will defend his middleweight championship against Paulo Costa on Sept. 19 at UFC 253, according to multiple media reports.

Adesanya (19-0) and Costa (13-0) both enter the fight undefeated. Adesanya won the title by defeating Robert Whittaker last October. Costa expected to challenge for the title in March, but pulled out after suffering a torn left bicep. Yoel Romero challenged Adesanya instead, losing by unanimous decision.

The two men have built a simmering rivalry for years, dating back from before when Adesanya won the title. The UFC has only held one other title fight between undefeated contenders, when Rashad Evans lost his light heavyweight title to Lyoto Machida in 2008.

FanDuel Sportsbook lists Adesanya as a -184 favorite over Costa (+154).

White: Nurmagomedov Will Fight When He’s Ready

UFC president Dana White says that lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov (28-0) will defend his title against interim champion Justin Gaethje (22-2), but that the bout will wait until the champion is ready to fight.

“He’s going to fight when he calls me,” White said at a press conference after Saturday’s card. “Khabib’s dad just died. When he’s ready, he’ll let me know.”

White says that when the fight comes together, Fight Island will likely host the bout, as well as most other major UFC cards in the near future.

“If you look at our roster of champions, they’re from all over the world, White said. “So the biggest, baddest fights over the next God knows how long are going to be here in Abu Dhabi. That’s why I’m saying Abu Dhabi is going to be looked at as the new fight capital of the world. It used to be Las Vegas. It definitely isn’t Las Vegas right now.”

Nurmagomedov is currently taking time off following the death of his father, Abdulmanap.

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