By: Julio Olmo
UFC Fight Island hosted its second fight night and third event overall and a new UFC Flyweight Champion was crowned in the main event.
Deiveson Figueiredo rolled over Joseph Benavidez and won the flyweight belt.
Figueiredo nearly ended things as soon as the fight began when he dropped Benavidez with a wicked right hook to the temple. Benavidez, if nothing else, showed tremendous heart in fending off an inevitable defeat.
The God Of War is a damn savage and notwithstanding all of the ordeals he faced getting to Fight Island, you knew that he was coming for his Pound Of Flesh.
#AndNew! 🏆 No questions remain.@Daico_Deiveson is your flyweight champion.#InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi | #UFCFightIsland2 pic.twitter.com/lMoMPZvdsr
— UFC (@ufc) July 19, 2020
“I feel really good. I worked really hard for this,” Figueiredo said through a translator on his post-fight interview. “I knew my time would come, and this is my time. I am going to be an active champion.”
One day after making weight with no issues, Figueiredo beat Benavidez in more impressive fashion than he did the first time around. Figueiredo dominated the fight from the outset before earning a technical submission to claim the vacant championship.
#AndNew | 🏆
Your new flyweight king has arrived.#InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi | #UFCFightIsland2 pic.twitter.com/UCOB1VehE9
— UFC (@ufc) July 19, 2020
Figueiredo is openly weeping. What a moment for him. Wins in February, but doesn’t get the belt and loses money, too. Has to do it all over again, the COVID test drama from last week … and then a performance like that. What a fun time for the flyweight division.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 19, 2020
Jack Hermansson grabbed another impressive win by making quick work of Kelvin Gastelum. The 32-year-old went into the fight with Gastelum as an underdog, but had a six-inch reach advantage.
Jokers are WILD! 🃏
🇸🇪 @JackTheJokerMMA needs just over a minute!
The main card finishes on E+ for #UFCFightIsland2 pic.twitter.com/vftPDUP5K2
— UFC (@ufc) July 19, 2020
The flyweight bout between Askar Askarov against Alexandre Pantoja opened up the main card at UFC . The first round was a fireworks display, but the exhausting pace through 10 minutes, fatigued both men going into the third round.
Ultimately Askarov picked up the unanimous decision win over Pantoja.
A new flyweight contender!
🇷🇺 @Askar_MMA gets the 29-28 UD.
The main card continues on E+ for #UFCFightIsland2 pic.twitter.com/bJ8uFHMcR2
— UFC (@ufc) July 19, 2020
Sometimes, us combat sports fans are reminded of the viciousness of the sport that we follow and the reason why is an acquire taste, which is very often not shared by other sport fans. This sequence speaks for itself, this The Life a warrior lives.
Holy Crap! 😳 They Don't Call Her "The Queen Of Violence" For Nothing 😬 #UFCFightIsland2 pic.twitter.com/2QyXgbyB8E
— The Voice of One! (@jeolmoz2) July 19, 2020
Luana Carolina carried by her corners after a first-round kneebar loss to Ariane Lipski #UFCFightIsland2 pic.twitter.com/p6lNfteluX
— Guilherme Cruz (@guicruzzz) July 19, 2020
"Irish lightweight Joe Duffy who once beat Conor McGregor retires after loss at Fight Island" #UFCFightIsland2 https://t.co/2TJVqHTkUb
— The Voice of One! (@jeolmoz2) July 19, 2020