UFC Norfolk: Deiveson Figueiredo stops Joseph Benavidez

He may not be leaving with the UFC flyweight belt, but Deiveson Figueiredo left Norfolk, Virginia with the W.

The Brazilian failed to make the 125-pound championship weight limit ahead of his fight against Benavidez, which ruled him out of winning the belt.

As you’d expect with flyweights, there was a frenetic pace to the fight from the very get go.

Benevidez landed some solid, looping overhand punches while Figueiredo sought to charge his opponent down and land straight punches and leg kicks.

A crazy sequence of scrambles ensued as Figueiredo seemingly had Benevidez in a lot of bother with a tight armbar attempt, but the American somehow managed to escape.

The second round was a totally different picture.

Benevidez’s head was busted open following an accidental clash of heads and though it wasn’t deliberate, that proved to be part of his downfall.

As he wiped away the blood linking into his face, Figueiredo smashed Benavidez with a right straight to knock him down. A couple of hammerfists followed to force the stoppage. Cue some wild celebratory scenes.

Big win for Figueiredo, but his failed weight cut leaves a slightly bitter taste.

This signals the third time Benavidez has lost a UFC flyweight championship bout.

 

UFC Norfolk: Felicia Spencer finishes Zarah Fairn in the first round

The UFC women’s featherweight division is in dire need of some up-and-coming names and Felicia Spencer is doing her utmost to make a mark in the division.

She made France’s Zarah Fairn look like light work in the Octagon.

Looking to avoid Fairn’s boxing skills, Spencer quickly took her to task with a well-executed takedown.

Fairn looked like a fish out of water with her back on the canvas and the Canadian was in total control as she immediately moved into full mount.

Spencer soon unleashed a volley of elbows and punches to force referee Dan Miragliotta to intervene.

Big win for “Feenom,” who returned to the win column after suffering the first defeat of her professional MMA career against Cris “Cyborg” last time out.

 

UFC Norfolk: Magomed Ankalaev gets “knockout” win over Ion Cutelaba in controversial circumstances

https://twitter.com/espnmma/status/1233936547461902338

To say Ion Cutelaba is one intense individual would be a severe understatement. His fight with Magomed Ankalaev almost started before MC Bruce Buffer had a chance to say his name during the fight introductions.

After security were forced to intervened to avoid a near-certain pre-fight scuffle, the fight eventually got underway.

Both fighters immediately decided to trade punches and kicks as soon as the scrap began.

Ankalaev seemingly hurt Cutelaba with a shot, but the Moldovan appeared to continue wobbling in an attempt to play possum after he had recovered.

Unperturbed, Ankalaev continued to attack but missed most of his shots as Cutelaba carried on swaying, but referee Kevin MacDonald believed that he was actually hurt and quickly called the fight off after just 38 seconds into round one.

Cutelaba, understandably, was angry at the decision and immediately protested. Ankalaev was awarded the knockout win to a chorus of boos from the Norfolk, Virginia crowd.

The Dagestan fighter responded in kind with a series of middle fingers being pointed towards the audience. Bizarre scenes.

 

UFC Norfolk: Benavidez vs. Figueiredo full results

Catchweight (127.5 lbs): Deiveson Figueiredo def. Joseph Benavidez by TKO (punches) at 1:54 of round two
Women’s Featherweight: Felicia Spencer def. Zarah Fairn by TKO (elbows and punches) at 3:37 of round one
Light Heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev def. Ion Cuțelaba by TKO (head kicks and punches) at 0:38 of round one
Women’s Featherweight: Megan Anderson def. Norma Dumont by KO (punch) at 3:31 of round one
Catchweight (149.5 lbs): Grant Dawson def. Darrick Minner by submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:38 of round two
Bantamweight: Kyler Phillips def. Gabriel Silva by unanimous decision after three rounds
Middleweight: Brendan Allen def. Tom Breese by TKO (elbows and punches) at 4:47 of round one
Heavyweight: Marcin Tybura def. Sergey Spivak by unanimous decision after three rounds
Lightweight: Luis Peña def. Steve Garcia by unanimous decision after three rounds
Featherweight: Jordan Griffin def. T.J. Brown by Technical Submission (guillotine choke) at 3:38 of round two
Featherweight: Spike Carlyle def. Aalon Cruz by TKO (punches) at 1:25 of round one
Welterweight: Sean Brady def. Ismail Naurdiev by unanimous decision after three rounds