2020 modified into once a wild year for MMA, that feels take care of it lasted a lifetime. With the whole motion that took exclaim over the year, it’s hard to undergo in mind what took exclaim. This series looks to befriend out with that, offering a chief level realizing on what came about in each and every weight class, and a evaluation at what we can ask to near assist in 2021.
The Correct
There’s a compelling argument to be made that 2020 modified into once the completely year ever within the history of the flyweight division. That’s tricky to assume with 125 pounds taking part in host to surely one of the fundamental top opponents ever for half a decade, on the other hand it indubitably looks right factual now. In 2020, no longer completely did Deiveson Figueiredo seize the mantle of flyweight champion, he grew to become the indispensable fighter from the division to ever win Fighter of the 300 and sixty five days honors. Nonetheless in all probability potentially the most spectacular accomplishment for Figueiredo this year is he someway made a believer out of Dana White. The one who as no longer too long ago as last year modified into once prepared to achieve 125 on the reducing block, is now calling it surely one of the fundamental sport’s completely divisions, which is a minor miracle.
Pointless to claim, Figueiredo wasn’t completely the function within the assist of Dana White’s trade of heart. In a year the put things were consistently in flux, the flyweight consistently delivered high-octane motion. Askar Askarov, Brandon Royval, and Alex Perez all rose to prominence within the division with a form of fights and worthy finishes. And, for certain, there’s Brandon Moreno who showed out to become the pause contender within the division after which achieve on a Strive in opposition to of the 300 and sixty five days nominee with Figueiredo at UFC 256. All in all, it modified into once a spectacular year for what at one time modified into once the UFC’s least licensed division.
The Atrocious
2020 modified into once a year to put out of your mind for most other folks, however within the flyweight division, no person would take care of to wipe their memory bigger than Joseph Benavidez. With both Demetrious Johnson and Henry Cejudo long gone from the division, the longtime furthermore-ran to Mighty Mouse looks to in a roundabout contrivance be in a exclaim to recount the title that had eluded him for thus long. As an alternative, he modified into once knocked out by Figueiredo – twice. With four failed title makes an try now to his title, and at 36 years feeble, it looks Benavidez is doomed to enroll within the ranks of all-time famous opponents who by no contrivance won the belt.
The Gruesome
Even supposing the UFC now looks dedicated to the flyweight division for the foreseeable future, it silent made some regrettable decisions with regards to it this year, most particularly, releasing Jussier Formiga. Formiga has been a staple of the division’s prime-five since its inception and even has a win over the present champion, factual last year. His present three-strive in opposition to shedding skid has near in opposition to prime-five opponents and he completely remains surely one of the fundamental completely flyweights within the sphere, so reducing him, namely when with a win or two, they would per chance in all probability space up a rematch between him and Figueiredo, that can per chance in all probability be right industry for building their champion’s big title. It modified into once a puzzling resolution.
The MVP of a division is no longer factual a quiz of “Who is the completely fighter within the division?” As an alternative, it looks at who equipped potentially the most leisure within the division over the direction of the year, win or lose.
Surely, the flyweight MVP for 2020 is Deiveson Figueiredo. Except for being the total 2020 Fighter of the 300 and sixty five days, Figueiredo clearly had a very worthy bouts of the year and equipped by far potentially the most leisure to followers. Figgy Smalls fought four cases in 2020, turning in two submissions, one knockout, and a Strive in opposition to of the 300 and sixty five days contender. That’s on prime of atmosphere the myth for quickest turnaround for a UFC champion. He furthermore wore this outfit.
2020 modified into once Deiveson Figueiredo’s year, we were all factual alongside for the walk.
Honorable Mentions: Brandon Moreno, Brandon Royval, Alex Perez
Deiveson Figueiredo strive in opposition to to a design Brandon Moreno, UFC 256.
Deiveson Figueiredo submits Joseph Benavidez with a rear-bare choke, UFC Strive in opposition to Island 2
Deiveson Figueiredo submits Alex Perez with a guillotine, UFC 255
Alex Perez TKO’s Jussier Formiga with leg kicks, UFC 250
Brandon Royval submits Tim Elliott with an arm-triangle choke, UFC Vegas 1
Brandon Royval submits Kai Kara-France with a guillotine choke, UFC 253
Su Mudaerji KOs Malcolm Gordon with punches, UFC Vegas 15
Jimmy Flick submits Cody Durden with a flying triangle, UFC Vegas 17
Tatsuki Saomoto KOs Yusaku Nakamura with punches, Rizin 23
As talked about before, the flyweight division is on the 2d within the completely field it has ever been in. It has a famous, marketable champion, the UFC is in a roundabout contrivance exhibiting it some love, and predominant, it has the originate of a sturdy contention to present on. Figueiredo and Moreno are almost distinct to rematch early in 2021, and given how famous their first strive in opposition to modified into once, the rematch will design quite a few attention to the division. After that, there are no longer any shortage of young, intriguing contenders making their near up the ranks. Given Figueiredo’s willingness to strive in opposition to in most cases, we are going to in all probability be in store for additional than one flyweight title fights next year, and if Figueiredo can abet his belt through all of that, he’ll be effectively on his merely about achieving a stage of stardom Demetrious Johnson by no contrivance did. Because the pronouncing goes, a rising tide lifts all boats and factual now, the water looks to be coming in on the flyweight division.
