A bantamweight bout between former champion Petr Yan and former two-time flyweight titleholder Deiveson Figueiredo headlined Saturday’s UFC Fight Night event in Macau, China.
Yan made the walk to the octagon ranked third. “No Mercy” was coming off a decision win over Song Yadong after dropping three fights in a row to the three most recent champions: Aljamain Sterling, Sean O’Malley, and Merab Dvalishvili.
Figueiredo made the move up to the bantamweight division last December and has put together a three-fight winning streak. Ranked fifth in the division, Figueiredo looked to insert himself in the bantamweight title picture.
Yan took the center of the cage and inched forward. Figueiredo landed a kick to the body and worked to get the fight to the ground. He tripped Yan to the canvas and moved to side control. Yan rolled to his knees. Figueiredo stayed on him as Yan delivered back elbows from the bottom. Figueiredo took Yan’s back and locked on a body triangle. Yan spun and gained top position midway through the frame. Figueiredo controlled Yan’s posture but punches got through. In the closing seconds, Yan postured up and landed a right hand. Figueiredo scrambled to his feet and separated after taking a knee to the body. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-0 for Yan.
Yan pressured Figueiredo to start the second round. He delivered a hard leg kick. He want high with a kick but it was blocked. After absorbing a kick to the body, Figueiredo looked for a takedown. Yan defended the attempt. Yan connected with a combination. Figueiredo landed a short right hand on the inside. Figueiredo stepped the pocket with a straight right hand. Yan landed a left hand and began mixing in side kicks to the legs. Figueiredo picked up the pace but Yan slammed him to the canvas in the closing seconds. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Yan.
Yan continued to land leg kick in the third. Figueiredo went to the boy with a right hand. Figueiredo changed levels and took Yan down. Yan quickly scrambled back to his feet. Yan connected with an uppercut that sat Figueiredo down. Yan followed him to the canvas. Figueiredo moved to the fence and used it to stand. They separated before clinching. Figueiredo circled away while Yan pressed forward. Figueiredo landed a right hand and they exchanged kicks to the body. Yan connected with a combination. He began landing more often. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Yan.
Figueiredo’s corner advised him to be more active. Figueiredo missed and a scramble ensued that ended with them back standing. Figueiredo delivered a kick to the body and closed the distance. He worked to get the fight to the ground along the cage. Yan’s takedown defense held up and the two separated. Yan connected with an uppercut that knocked Figueiredo’s mouthpiece out. Figueiredo was unable to mount an effective offense. Yan continued to land uppercuts. Figueiredo pressed forward and knocked Yan down with a right hand. Yan quickly got to his feet but absorbed a hard kick to the body. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Yan.
They touched gloves to begin the final frame. Figueiredo pressed forward. Yan responded with a combination. Figueiredo answered with a right hand to the body. Figueiredo landed a right hand. Yan continued to land uppercuts on the inside. Yan landed a spinning back elbow. Figueiredo simply ate it. Yan connected with a left hand. Figueiredo landed two right hands. Yan looked for a takedown. Figueiredo defended the attempt. The fight went the distance. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Yan.
The judges scored the fight for Yan via unanimous decision. All three scorecards read 50-45.
