Deiveson Figueiredo received again on monitor with a break up determination win over Montel Jackson in a co-main occasion at UFC Rio that failed to supply many thrills or chills.
The previous flyweight champion primarily relied on his grappling to floor Jackson and maintain the lengthy, rangy striker from actually constructing any type of momentum. Whereas it appeared like a transparent reduce determination for Figueiredo primarily based on the primary couple of rounds, the judges nonetheless made him sweat with two scorecards coming again 29-28 for the Brazilian and the third going for Jackson with that very same 29-28.
Nonetheless that was sufficient for Figueiredo to get the nod as he returns to the win column after falling to Cory Sandhagen in his earlier outing.
“That is what it’s about,” Figueiredo stated to the Brazilian crowd. “We pour our blood in right here to your leisure. There’s lots of people on-line wishing me hurt. I wish to combat Merab [Dvalishvili]. However I do know I’ve to work laborious to get there.”
Some rapid-fire punches from the skin set the tone for Jackson early however Figueiredo countered with a well-timed takedown to deliver the combat to the canvas. Jackson scrambled as Figueiredo regarded for submissions however finally the bantamweights ended up again on the toes once more.
Jackson wasn’t producing a lot offense until Figueiredo was participating, which slowed the motion down significantly. Figueiredo did handle a remaining burst on the finish of the primary spherical when he linked with a tough proper hook that had Jackson stumbling backwards.
On the restart, Figueiredo instantly dove for an additional takedown however this time he jumped into the mount earlier than on the lookout for the arm-triangle choke. Jackson defended successfully however nonetheless discovered Figueiredo on his again.
As soon as once more, Jackson broke free to restart on his toes however he simply wasn’t lively sufficient to actually threaten Figueiredo, who was content material with an analogous output.
Nursing a lead by two rounds, Figueiredo didn’t appear to be in dire have to make one thing occur as he continued circling on the skin whereas Jackson remained coiled and able to strike however by no means actually unleashing something. A remaining flurry resulted in Figueiredo really diving for a leg as time ran out on a lackluster co-main occasion.
Whereas it wasn’t precisely the barnburner many anticipated, Figueiredo received the nod whereas Jackson got here up brief in his greatest alternative to take a giant step ahead within the bantamweight division.
