UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo (20-1, 9 KOs, 8 SUBs) will defend his title against the upstart young Brandon Moreno (18-5, 3 KOs, 10 SUBs) at UFC 256 on Saturday, December 12, 2020 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Here are UFC 256 Picks.
- Location
- UFC Apex - Las Vegas, Nevada
UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo (20-1, 9 KOs, 8 SUBs) will defend his title against the upstart young Brandon Moreno (18-5, 3 KOs, 10 SUBs) at UFC 256 on Saturday, December 12, 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, longtime lightweight contender Tony Ferguson (25-4, 12 KOs, 8 SUBs) will meet the streaking Charles Oliveira (29-8, 8 KOs, 19 SUBs) in a pivotal matchup. Let’s take a look at the UFC betting lines and break down your best betting options at our top-5 UFC online sportsbooks.
Bet UFC odds at the top-rated online sportsbooks now!
Yes, we were all very, very excited about Petyr Yan vs. Aljamain Sterling. But watching Figueiredo and Moreno scrap just a few weeks after both scored first-round stoppages at UFC 255 is a pretty solid audible - props to the UFC brass for also giving the flyweights a chance to build on some hype. It’s a good matchup and an excellent showcase for a rising champ.
Our top 5 online sportsbooks opened with Figueiredo as a massive -305 favorite, with Moreno at +231 on the comeback.
Deiveson Figueiredo (20-1, 9 KOs, 8 SUBs)
Demetrious Johnson is 1000% the flyweight GOAT. Henry Cejudo deserves a Hall of Fame spot for achieving double champ status. But there’s never been a 125-pounder quite like Deiveson Figueiredo. Sure, there have been guys that were good at finishing people. But Figueiredo straight up mauls dudes. Here’s his current streak: five wins, four finishes, three coming in the first round. The champ is on an absolute tear right now.
It’s not hard to see why Figueiredo is such a monster: he’s bigger and stronger than the entire division. Against Alex Perez, it looked like the Brazilian could easily fight two weight classes higher. It’s a miracle he makes weight and loses nothing with such a drastic cut. On top of that, the 32-year old is a plus athlete with the finishing power on the feet and the ground. He can knock you out with a single punch, and he can just as easily tap you by torquing or squeezing whatever he gets a hold of. Those champ clamps had Alex Perez tapping out in under two minutes.
Brandon Moreno (18-5, 3 KOs, 10 SUBs)
At just 26 years old, the Mexican native gets a chance to dethrone the most dominant physical flyweight in UFC history. It’s amazing that “The Assassin Baby” is even here in the first place - he was cut from the promotion in 2018 after back-to-back losses to Sergio Pettis and Alexandre Pantoja. He was brought back after a win in LFA, and has gone unbeaten in five straight fights.
We could be looking at a future champion: Moreno is big, fearless and already a very good pressure fighter. While he’s coming off a knockout of Rovyal, it’s his grappling that’s especially dangerous - Moreno has 10 submission wins in 18 career victories. He’s made huge strides in just a few years, and has the trademark Mexican toughness that so many legendary Mexican fighters possess.
Significant Striking Stats
Strikes landed per minute: Figueiredo 2.79 / Moreno 3.01
Striking accuracy: Figueiredo 55% / Moreno 35%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Figueiredo 2.82 / Moreno 2.96
Striking defense: Figueiredo 52% / Moreno 63%
Grappling Stats
Takedowns per 15 minutes: Figueiredo 1.68 / Moreno 1.93
Takedown accuracy: Figueiredo 50% / Moreno 44%
Takedown defense: Figueiredo 63% / Moreno 69%
Submissions per 15 minutes: Figueiredo 3.0 / Moreno 0.8
UFC Odds Pick: Figueiredo inside the distance -160
Too much, too soon for Moreno. While he’s an absolute stud with a high ceiling, he’s basically stepping into the cage against a champ who is peaking as a fighter. You can see the confidence oozing from Figueiredo - it’s like he knows that nobody can stop him right now. We expect him to stalk Moreno, brush off any incoming offense, and find a way to launch a fight-ending barrage.
Bet on UFC at our top 5 online sportsbooks now!
