November’s UFC 255 to feature two flyweight title bouts
UFC president Dana White told ESPN Friday that November’s UFC 255 will feature both the men’s and women’s flyweight champions defending their titles.
In one bout, newly crowned men’s champion Deiveson Figueiredo will defend against former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt while women’s champion Valentina Shevchenko will look to continue her run of dominance against Jennifer Maia.
Figueiredo submitted Joseph Benavidez in the first round of last month’s rematch for the vacant title, his second straight finish over Benavidez and fourth straight win. The inclusion of Garbrandt is an interesting one as he’s never fought in the division and is coming off a second round knockout of Rafael Assuncao at bantamweight in June. But without a clear top challenger and one that can draw public interest, Garbrandt is getting the call instead.
ESPN’s Ariel Helwani noted Figueiredo has signed a new six-fight deal with the UFC.
Shevchenko has won five in a row and will be looking for the fourth defense of the title she won in December 2018 while Maia has won three of her last four and last defeated Joanne Calderwood who was thought to be the no. 1 contender before Maia submitted her last week.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.