Bet UFC 255 picks including the bout between Deiveson Figueiredo and Alex Perez. Get the latest UFC opening lines and MMA handicapping tips right now, and remember to bet using Bitcoin!
- Date & Time
- November 21st, 2020
- Location
- UFC Apex - Las Vegas, Nevada
- Media Coverage
- ESPN+
Flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo (19-1, 9 KOs, 7 SUBs) will make his first title defense against the surging Alex Perez (24-5, 5 KOs, 7 SUBs) at UFC 255: Figueiredo vs. Perez on Saturday, November 21, 2020 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card airs live on pay-per-view starting 10pm ET. In the co-main event, dominant women’s flyweight champion and elite pound-for-pound fighter Valentina Shevchenko (19-3, 6 KOs, 7 SUBs) will make her fourth title defense against veteran Jennifer Maia (18-6, 4 KOs, 5 SUBs). Get the latest UFC betting odds, money lines, prop bets and more from our top-rated online sportsbooks.
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Deiveson Figueiredo (19-1, 9 KOs, 7 SUBs)
The Brazilian might not be a star, but Figueiredo is absolutely one of the best fighters in the UFC today. In nine octagon appearances, Figueiredo has eight victories - with six coming by stoppage. The lone loss was a listless performance to Jussier Formiga which was blamed on illness. That excuse is looking more and more like the truth, as Figueiredo isn’t just winning, but beasting. What’s scary about him is that he can do it on the feet or the ground, with explosive killshot power and a brutal submission game. Ask Joe Benavidez about this: the longtime No. 1 contender was knocked out in their first matchup, then choked out in the immediate rematch.
Figueiredo’s biggest advantage is plain to see: he is a physical monster for the weight class. Built like a tank, the champion is so big that he’s struggled to make the 125-pound limit. It’s obvious that Figueiredo has supreme confidence in his power and athleticism, as he simply bides his time to spring into action. That often means he’ll fall behind on volume, but the 32-year old quickly makes up ground by doing more damage with less effort. Simply put, Figueiredo usually has the bigger moments in his fights.
Alex Perez (24-5, 5 KOs, 7 SUBs)
Like Figueiredo, Perez has lost just once since joining the UFC. That loss came to Joe Benavidez, which isn’t a good sign if you’re doing MMA math (which you never should). Here’s a twist: Perez is coming off a win over Formiga, who is the only man to beat Figueiredo. For whatever reason, that fight was buried in an early prelim, so only a few people got to watch Perez rack up an ultra-rare leg kick TKO. The 28-year old literally kept chopping at Formiga’s lead leg until he fell and couldn’t get up anymore. That extended his win streak to three, including wins over Mark De La Rosa and Jordan Espinosa. That’s enough for a title shot in a division that’s thinned out over the years.
Perez isn’t as powerful as the champ, but he’s an effective bully nonetheless. As a pressure fighter, the 28-year old never stops working - landing an excellent 4.69 strikes per minute and over 3 takedowns per 15 minutes. That’s an insanely high work rate, which is needed because Perez isn’t near the finisher that Figueiredo is. We wouldn’t go as far as saying that he’s pillowfisted, as Perez has fast hands that land heavy. On the mat, Perez needs to be respected as he’s got all the tools to get complicated submissions.
Significant Striking Stats
Strikes landed per minute: Figueiredo 2.43 / Perez 4.69
Striking accuracy: Figueiredo 52% / Perez 48%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Figueiredo 2.15 / Perez 3.27
Striking defense: Figueiredo 55% / Perez 61%
Grappling Stats
Takedowns per 15 minutes: Figueiredo 1.86 / Perez 3.2
Takedown accuracy: Figueiredo 50% / Perez 50%
Takedown defense: Figueiredo 58% / Perez 87%
Submissions per 15 minutes: Figueiredo 2.27 / Perez 1.16
UFC Odds Pick: Figueiredo to win at -285
This isn’t an ideal price, but it’s still playable for a guy that could easily be a bigger favorite. I look at Figueiredo like a miniature version of Yoel Romero - who just happens to be fighting in his prime. There isn’t a single fighter that can match up with Figueiredo physically, and the champ doesn’t have to watch his energy levels like the Cuban. In the end, Figueiredo will have the more significant moments and walk away with the win.
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