UFC Fight Night: Benavidez vs Figueiredo
2-29-20
From Norfolk, Virginia
Available on ESPN+
By Dylan Hager
2020 Picks Record:
Overall 27-33
Main Card 16-10
Prelim 11-23
Title fight time! The UFC travels to Norfolk this weekend to crown a new Flyweight Champion...maybe! There really is not much on this fight card, but this is the type of card that surprises people with violent fights and finishes. Lets get right to the picks!
UFC Flyweight Title: Joseph Benavidez (28-5) (1) vs Deiveson Figueiredo (17-1) (3)
We could have a new Flyweight Champ come Saturday night! I say "could" because Deiveson Figueiredo weighed in over the Flyweight limit, meaning only Joe Benavidez can win the vacant title. Benavidez is coming in on quite the roll. He's won three straight and nine of his last ten. The only people to ever beat him are Dom Cruz, "Mighty Mouse" Johnson, and Sergio Pettis. He finished Jussier Formiga his last time out. Benavidez has great submission skills. He is great at controlling people on the ground, and he has been showing his power recently, finishing two of his last three by TKO.
He'll be up against Deiveson Figueiredo. Even if he can't win the title, a main event win over Benavidez would be huge for his career. He suffered his first career loss to Formiga last March, but he picked up wins over Alexandre Pantoja and Tim Elliot to finish 2019. Deiveson is just an animal in the cage. He has great pressure, and he can finish fights on the feet and the ground.
I love watching Deiveson, but I think this is Benavidez's time for the title. It has been almost seven years since Joe challenged for UFC gold, and he's going to get the job done this time. Deiveson has great pressure and his weight advantage could play a factor. Joe will be able to control Figueiredo on the ground. I like Joe to get the finish in the championship rounds. Prediction: Joseph Benavidez 4th Rd TKO
Felicia Spencer (7-1) vs Zarah Fairn dos Santos (6-3)
Felicia Spencer gets her second straight co-main spot this weekend. Instead of Cyborg, she'll be in there with Zarah Fairn dos Santos this weekend. Spencer defeated Megan Anderson in her UFC debut, but she did fall to Cyborg in a great fight last time out. Spencer showed off her toughness against Cyborg and her grappling skills against Anderson.
Spencer will be up against Zarah Fairn dos Santos. Dos Santos lost her UFC debut to Megan Anderson last October. Dos Santos looked solid on the feet, but her ground game could use some work. I like Spencer to get the early submission win in this one. Prediction: Felicia Spencer 1st Rd Submission
Ion Cutelaba (15-4 (1)) vs Magomed Ankalaev (13-1)
Light Heavyweight fireworks up next on the main card. Powerful strikers Ion Cutelaba and Magomed Ankalaev will do battle in what is sure to be a fire fight. Cutelaba has won three of his last four. He has twelve career TKO finishes, and he has never been finished by TKO. Ankalaev was 10-0 before being finished by Paul Craig, but he has come back with three straight wins. Cutelaba has more submission finishes, but Ankalaev has shown good wrestling skills. I'm hoping this fight stays on the feet. Let these boys bang! I like Cutelaba to get the finish. Prediction: Ion Cutelaba 2nd Rd TKO
Megan Anderson (10-4) vs Norma Dumont (4-0)
A second Women's Featherweight fight on this weeks card will feature Megan Anderson vs the debuting Norma Dumont. Anderson is 2-2 in the UFC. She has star potential in this incredibly weak division, but she has had trouble putting a run together in the Octagon. She has good striking, but she is best on the ground. Not going to lie, I know absolutely nothing about Norma Dumont and she has no footage on UFC Fight Pass. I like Megan to get a submission win in this one. Prediction: Megan Anderson 2nd Rd Submission
Grant Dawson (14-1) vs Darrick Minner (24-10)
Megan Anderson's teammate, Grant Dawson, kicks off the main card. He'll be opposed by the debuting Darrick Minner. Dawson is good on the feet, but he has that Glory MMA BJJ skill set. He's very good on the ground. Minner is on a two fight win streak outside of the UFC, but we'll see how his skill set looks under the bright lights. I really like Dawson to finish this one early. Prediction: Grant Dawson 1st Rd Submission
Seven fights on the prelim card this week. This is such a shallow card. At least we get "Violent Bob Ross!" A lot of fighters making their debuts; these picks could be all over the place. Quick picks for the prelims as always.
Gabriel Silva (8-1) vs Kyler Phillips (6-1) Prediction: Gabriel Silva
Brendan Allen (13-3) vs Tom Breese (11-1) Prediction: Brendan Allen
Marcin Tybura (17-6) vs Sergey Spivak (10-1) Prediction: Sergey Spivak
Luis Pena (7-2) vs Steve Garcia (11-3) Prediction: Luis Pena
Jordan Griffin (17-7) vs T.J. Brown (14-6) Prediction: T.J. Brown
Aalon Cruz (8-2) vs Spike Carlyle (8-1) Prediction: Spike Carlyle
Ismail Naurdiev (19-3) vs Sean Brady (11-0) Prediction: Ismail Naurdiev
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