UFC Fight Night 169: Benavidez vs Figueiredo Betting Odds and Prediction

The UFC’s flyweight title is on the line when Joseph Benavidez takes on Deiveson Figueiredo in the main event of UFC Fight Night 169 at the Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Virginia on February 29, 2020.

Benavidez is a one-time title challenger and is currently the #1ranked flyweight contender. Figueiredo is the 3rd ranked flyweight in the UFC and will be making his first title fight appearance. The flyweight title became vacant after Henry Cejudo relinquished the belt last December 20, 2019. Benavidez has nine wins in his last 10 fights.

Joseph Benavidez vs Deiveson Figueiredo

Joseph Benavidez is the #1 ranked flyweight in the UFC. The 35-year old from San Antonio, Texas was the training partner of former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber. Benavidez also fought for Dream and the WEC before settling down in the UFC. In 2013, he challenged and lost to Demetrious Johnson for the UFC flyweight championship. Benavidez owns a win over double-champion Henry Cejudo. He stands 5-4 with a reach of 65 inches and is a southpaw fighter. Benavidez has a record of 28-5 with 8 knockouts and 9 wins via submission.

Deiveson Figueiredo is the #3 ranked flyweight in the UFC. The former 57-kg Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu North Brazil champion amassed an 11-0 record in Brazil when he was signed by the UFC in 2017. He won his first four UFC bouts with three stoppages before losing to via decision to Jussier Formiga. He’s picked up back to back wins over Alexandre Pantoja and Tim Elliott. He has a record of 17-1 with 8 knockouts and six wins by submission. The Brazilian stands 5-5 tall with a reach of 68 inches and fights out of the orthodox stance.

Both fighters had a terrific year in 2019. Benavidez likes to scramble and grapple. If he takes this fight to the ground early, he is going to dominate on the mat and that will be trouble for Figueiredo. The Brazilian usually takes a while to get warmed up, leaving Benavidez with an early window to take his opponent down. The opening minutes are going to be crucial. Benavidez has a stocky frame and he often gets punches in the face. If Sergio Pettis could stun him early, I think Figueiredo is going to stop him. The Brazilian is known for his power and strength. I think Benavidez is going to feel those. Give me Figueredo here.

Prediction: Deiveson Figueiredo

Felicia Spencer vs Zarah Fairn Dos Santos

Felicia Spencer is a former Invicta FC featherweight champion who stands 5-6 tall and has a reach of 68 inches while fighting out of the orthodox stance. She has a record of 7-1 with one knockout and four wins by submission. All four of her tap out wins have come via rear-naked choke. In her last fight, she gave a good account of herself in a loss to Cris Cyborg at UFC 240.

Zarah Fairn Dos Santos is the first French athlete competing in the UFC. The 33-year old known as the “Infinite” has not fought since October 2017 but has won her last three bouts. Dos Santos has a record of 6-3 with four wins by knockout. Fairn stands 5-8 with a reach of 72 inches and is an orthodox fighter.

Spencer has been impressive in her two UFC bouts. She submitted Megan Anderson in her UFC debut and then put up a good effort against Cris Cyborg in her second octagon outing. Dos Santos has good kickboxing skills and could become a problem is Spencer chooses to fight her on her feet. But Spencer’s aggressive grappling should be the key to this fight. I think Spencer wins easily here.

Prediction: Felicia Spencer

Ion Cutelaba vs Magomed Ankalaev

Ion Cutelaba fought for regional promotions in Europe before coming to the UFC. The Moldovan light-heavyweight known as the Hulk is a former European Sambo Champion in the 90kg weight class. He is 6-1 tall with a reach of 75 inches and is a southpaw. Cutelaba has a record of 15-4 with 12 knockouts and two wins by submission. Hulk is coming off a knockout win over Khalil Rountree last September 2019.

Magomed Ankalaev is a former World Fighting Championship Akhmat who signed with the UFC in 2017. The 27-year old from Dagestan has a record of 13-1 with seven wins by knockouts. Ankalaev stands 6-3 tall with a reach of 75 inches and is an orthodox fighter. He has won three straight bouts inside the octagon after losing his UFC debut against Paul Craig.

Cutelaba acts and fights like a psychopath. He’s an aggressive fighter who’s always hoping to eliminate his opponents in the first round. He only knows one way to fight and that is to straight out brawl. Ankalaev has a combat sambo background and is a very capable wrestler. His kicks are dangerous but against Cutelaba, he will likely shoot for the takedown and dominate from there. Well, that’s if he can survive the initial salvo from Cutelaba. I think he does and I’m picking Ankalaev here.

Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev

Megan Anderson vs Norma Dumont Viana

Megan Anderson is the former Invicta FC Featherweight champion and four-time post-fight bonus winner in the promotion. The 30-year old Anderson lost to Holly Holm in her UFC debut in 2018. She’s won two of three bouts since then, beating Cat Zingano and Zarah Fairn Dos Santos inside the octagon. Anderson is 6-0 tall with a reach of 72 inches while fighting out of the orthodox stance. She has a record of 10-4 with five knockouts and three submission wins.

Norma Dumont Viana is a 29-year old from Brazil. Known as the Immortal, Dumont started her career with Jungle Fight. She is undefeated in four bouts with two submission wins. Dumont stands 5-7 tall with a reach of 67 inches and is an orthodox fighter. In her last fight, Dumont defeated Mariana Morais via majority decision at Shooto Brazil 86.

This is a striker vs grappler battle right here. Anderson won via triangle choke in her last outing but no doubt that she prefers to fight on her feet. She fights well at a range and delivers her strikes and kicks with force. Dumont has Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu background and she has a striking game that still needs a lot of improvement. Anderson’s grappling bu I feel like Dumont is in the same caliber of opponents that Anderson dominated when she was fighting at Invicta FC.

Prediction: Megan Anderson

Gabriel Silva vs Kyler Phillips

Gabriel Silva fights out of Team Nogueira and is a 25-year old from Brazil. He is a veteran of Jungle Fight and LFA who lost to Ray Borg in his UFC debut. He stands 5-6 tall and has a reach of 71 inches while fighting out of the orthodox stance. Silva has a record of 8-1 with 3 knockouts and one submission.

Kyler Phillips is a product of MMA Lab and the 24-year old from Phoenix is a veteran of the CXF who also appeared in The Ultimate Fighter Season 27. Phillips knocked out James Gray Jr. in Season 1 of Dana White’s Contender Series. He stands 5-8 tall with a reach of 72 inches while fighting as an orthodox fighter. Phillips has a record of 6-1 with four knockouts and one submission victory.

Silva is an aggressive power puncher who also has a solid grappling game. He faced Ray Borg and lost in his Octagon debut but against mediocre opposition, he should look better. Phillips took this fight on short notice and he has a significant background in judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and wrestling. This one is tough to call and it will likely be a back and forth battle between two fighters trying to prove they belong inside the octagon. I think this may be too soon for Phillips and although he is the better wrestler, I think Silva has more experience and has the poise to win a close fight.

Prediction: Gabriel Silva

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