Figueiredo attempts 2nd title defense in 3 weeks at UFC 256

Sport

Figueiredo attempts 2nd title defense in 3 weeks at UFC 256

2020-12-12 07:01 Last Updated At：07:10

Deiveson Figueiredo had the perfect segue into a happy holiday season late last month when he impressively defended his UFC flyweight title for the first time.

Mixed martial arts fighters don't celebrate achievements or holidays in quite the same way as most people, however.

Just three weeks after his hand was raised, Figueiredo is back at the UFC Apex gym on Saturday night to try to get it raised again.

After a bit of financial persuasion from the UFC, Figueiredo (20-1) agreed to stay in Las Vegas long enough to save the day at cancellation-battered UFC 256.

The Brazilian champion will attempt to put the shortest time between title defenses in UFC history when he takes on Brandon Moreno (18-5-1), who also fought at UFC 255 three weeks earlier, in the main event of the promotion's final pay-per-view card of a tumultuous year.

The physical challenge of the shortest turnaround between title fights in UFC history would be nearly impossible for many fighters, let alone champions. But after Figueiredo submitted Alex Perez in just 117 seconds at UFC 255, he stayed right in training for UFC 256.

“I had a perfect three weeks here,” Figueiredo said through an interpreter. “With just 20 days between fights, we couldn't train too hard. We couldn't tire my body out too much, so we were doing a lot of technical training and just keeping fresh."

A victory would cap a remarkable 4-0 year for Figueiredo, who won in Virginia in February and in Abu Dhabi in July. But as a big, powerful flyweight with more finishing ability than most of his division, Figueiredo is built for impressive feats.

“When I think of that, I’m really happy and proud of myself,” Figueiredo said of his resilience in 2020.

The UFC didn't actually have to beg him to stay in town, either: Figueiredo boldly challenged Moreno to a bout in December in his UFC 255 post-fight interview.

“When they offered me Brandon Moreno, the first thing I did was reach out to my nutritionist,” Figueiredo said, noting his prior weight-cutting challenges as a big flyweight. “Once she said my body was good if I focused on the diet, I accepted the fight right away.”

Moreno would be the first Mexican-born UFC champion if he can pull off the upset. The Tijuana native earned his title shot by stopping Brandon Royval in the waning seconds of the first round at UFC 255 for his third straight win.

“It's big for my country, because I can change the sport in Mexico if I get the title,” Moreno said. “When the UFC gave me this opportunity, I couldn't believe it, because everything was so fast. This sport is getting bigger in my country, but we need more work. I know I can be an example for all the young kids who try to start in this sport. I can show Mexico and Latin America in general that you can do it.”

The flyweight title fight headlines a show that has endured major changes and cancellations due to injuries and COVID-19 testing.

Lightweight contender Tony Ferguson takes on Charles Oliveira in the penultimate bout, while strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern, middleweight veteran Ronaldo “Jacaré” Souza and former heavyweight champ Junior Dos Santos also are on the pay-per-view portion of the show.

Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, featherweight champion Amanda Nunes and bantamweight champion Petr Yan all were tentatively booked to fight at UFC 256 at various points, but all of the bouts were scrapped or postponed. Two additional undercard bouts were scrapped two days before the show due to COVID-19 positives.

The popular Ferguson (25-4) is on the rebound after getting battered and stopped by Justin Gaethje in May during the UFC's first event back from its two-month coronavirus pause. Ferguson's loss ended his eight-year, 12-fight winning streak, but the former 155-pound interim champion is determined to fight his way back into contention.

That's a tall order against Oliveira (29-8), who has won seven straight fights over the last three years as a brilliantly technical submission specialist.

But Ferguson has earned six Fight of the Night honors in his last seven bouts, and his combination of wrestling skill, superb conditioning and reckless attitude make him capable of anything.

“I know if I get to work and get back to who I am, I'll be right back where I should be,” Ferguson said. "People remember your losses more than your victories.

More AP sports: https://apnews.com/tag/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Lions beat playoff-bound Bears 19-16 on Bates' 42-yard field goal as time expires

CHICAGO (AP) — Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions entered the season with their sights set on the Super Bowl. Finishing a frustrating year by beating their division winner was at least some consolation.

Goff led five scoring drives, Jake Bates kicked a 42-yard field goal as time expired and the Lions regrouped to beat the NFC North champion Chicago Bears 19-16 on Sunday after blowing a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter.

“It feels good to kind of get back to who we are and see it in live-speed reality,” Goff said.

What doesn't feel good? Missing the playoffs.

“It’s frustrating,” coach Dan Campbell said. "So that’s what fuels you. We don’t want to be doing that again next year. That’s not where we want to be. We have got to get in.”

The Bears (11-6) stumbled into the playoffs with back-to-back losses, though they secured the No. 2 seed in the NFC with Washington beating Philadelphia. Chicago will host Green Bay in a wild-card game next week and would have home-field advantage in the divisional round if it beats the Packers.

“We’re going to use this frustration,” said Caleb Williams, who set the franchise’s single-season passing record. “We’re going to get on a roll here this week, starting this week and that’s the focus.”

Williams threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes as the Bears wiped out a 16-0 deficit.

The Lions (9-8) started the final drive at their 37 after Chicago punted on fourth-and-5 at the 31. Bears coach Ben Johnson considered going for the first down but decided against it, figuring he had three timeouts and would probably get the ball back.

That didn't happen, and Detroit ended a disappointing season on a winning note when Bates nailed a 42-yarder. A 26-yard pass from Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown helped set up the field goal and Detroit came out on top after losing three in a row.

Goff shook off his worst game of the season by throwing for 331 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The four-time Pro Bowler completed 27 of 42 passes after setting season highs with two interceptions and three fumbles and matched one by getting sacked five times last week at Minnesota.

St. Brown had 139 yards on 11 receptions. Gibbs ran for 80 yards and had a touchdown catch. Avonte Maddox intercepted Williams in the end zone in the third quarter.

“I still believe the nucleus of this team is right,” Campbell said. “I really do. But we are going to need to make a few changes. Not just talking about that. It will be collectively. We’re going to have to work through some things to get the best version of ourselves.”

Williams threw for 212 yards, giving him 3,942 this season to surpass Erik Kramer’s franchise mark of 3,838 in 1995. Chicago remains the only team without a 4,000-yard passer.

Colston Loveland caught 10 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. Kevin Byard had his league-leading seventh interception.

“They fought their tails off, but came up short,” Johnson said. “We’ve got to play better going forward, we’ve got to coach better going forward as well and we’re turning the page, though. We got the No. 2 seed, we’ve got a home game next week and we’ve got a new season on the horizon. Our guys should be reinvigorated by that. I know I certainly am.”

The Bears hadn’t made the playoffs since 2020. But they won the division in Johnson’s first season after finishing last a year ago.

Chicago trailed 16-0 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter when Williams connected with Jahdae Walker for a 25-yard touchdown and broke Kramer’s record. A 2-point conversion run by Kyle Monangai cut it to 16-8.

After the Lions punted, Chicago went 88 yards for a touchdown, with Williams finding Colston Loveland in the end zone from the 1. A lunging Cole Kmet then hauled in the 2-point conversion pass in a crowd, tying it at 16 and whipping the crowd into a frenzy.

The Lions then had the ball at the Chicago 35 when Goff attempted to zip a pass to St. Brown. The Bears’ Jaquan Brisker tipped the ball and Byard picked it off at the 5.

Lions: WR Tom Kennedy (rib) was hurt returning a punt in the third quarter.

Bears: The Bears held out LT Ozzy Trapilo (knee/quad) after he was limited in practice during the week. ... LB Ty Summers (foot) left after he was injured on the opening kickoff. ... C.J. Gardner-Johnson (concussion) left after he was hurt on the winning drive.

Lions: Start the offseason.

Bears: Host Green Bay in a wild-card game next weekend.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl