UFC Norfolk main event breakdown: Benavidez, Figueiredo chase gold in battle of power punchers

MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the UFC’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main event for UFC on ESPN+ 27, with the promotion’s vacant flyweight title on the line.

UFC on ESPN+ 27 takes place Saturday at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Va. The card streams on ESPN+.

Joseph Benavidez (28-5 MMA, 15-3 UFC)

Staple info:

• Height: 5’4″ Age: 35 Weight: 125 lbs. Reach: 65″
• Last fight: TKO win over Jussier Formiga (June 29, 2019)
• Camp: UFC Performance Institute (Las Vegas, Nev.)
• Stance/striking style: Switch-stance/kickboxing
• Risk management: Good

Supplemental info:

+ Joe-Jitsu specialist
+ State wrestling champion of New Mexico
+ 8 KO victories
+ 9 submission wins
+ 7 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Consistent pace and pressure
+ Good feints and footwork
^ Elusive counters or corralling combos
+ Heavy right hand
+ Hard body and calf kicks
+ Superb scrambling ability
^ Urgent get-ups/great reversals
+ Strong from front-headlock position
^ Threatens guillotines/dictates position

Deiveson Figueiredo (17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC)

Staple info:

• Height: 5’5″ Age: 32 Weight: 125 lbs. Reach: 68″
• Last fight: Submission win over Tim Elliott (Oct. 12, 2019)
• Camp: Figueiredo Team (Brazil)
• Stance/striking style: Switch-stance/muay Thai
• Risk management: Good

Supplemental info:

+ Regional MMA accolades
+ Regional grappling accolades
+ 8 KO victories
+ 6 submission wins
+ 9 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Well-timed right hands/uppercuts
^ Coming forward or off the counter
+ Slicing elbows from multiple ranges
+ Strong inside the clinch
+ Improved wrestling ability
^ Defensively and offensively
+ Works well from topside
^ Devastating ground striker
+ Dangerous guillotine choke

Point of interest: The price of pressure

The main event in Norfolk features a fantastic fight for the vacant flyweight title that pits the division’s heaviest hitters against each other.

Both men play very well off of pressure, but do so in different ways.

Initially stepping onto the WEC scene as an offensive-minded honey badger armed with the art of eight limbs, Joseph Benavidez has long had a relationship with pressure, showing a knack for launching corralling combos and chopping leg kicks.

Being among the first of his former Team Alpha Male stable to functionally implement shifts into his footwork, Benavidez has done a bang-up job in regards to adding or adjusting his game so that he can keep up with his contemporaries. In fact, the 14-year vet has smoothly integrated more of a stick-and-move style in spirit, displaying the ability to hit hard counters from either stance.

Coupled with Benavidez’s patented bodywork and newly-involved calf kicks (both of which I suspect will serve him well against his current counterpart), the former title challenger remains a fully-fledged threat on the feet. That said, Benavidez’s high-volume approach to offense has shown to sometimes open him up to hard counters early – something that could be extra-costly against the likes of Deivison Figueiredo.

Appearing to be a pressure-fighting wildman on the Brazilian regional scene, Figueiredo has seemingly sharpened his style and approach since touching down in the UFC octagon. The 32-year-old contender still relies heavily upon his head and trunk movement but will now add a long-framing defense from both stances, as well as flick out more jabs and straight shots to help establish his range.

This approach both accentuates Figueiredo’s length, as well as entices risky entries from his opposition that open them up for the Brazilian’s powerful counters. Whether he’s unloading counter crosses or uppercuts, Figueiredo demonstrates stellar timing and anticipation to go along with a power that flyweight hasn’t seen since the days of John Lineker.

Should Benavidez slip too slowly to Figueiredo’s power side, then we could see the trajectory of this fight shift on a dime. But considering that Figueiredo will be facing a potent level-changing threat in his first five-round affair, I will be curious to see both how consistent and eager he is to unload offense given that everything comes with a price.

Next point of interest: Flyweight quicksand