UFC 255 was dealt a bit of a blow today. First reported by Combate and now confirmed by ESPN, Cody Garbrandt (12-3) is out of his title fight against flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo (19-1). Figueiredo will now defend against a new opponent.
The UFC‘s flyweight champion will now be taking on Alex Perez (24-5) per ESPN’s Brett Okamoto. Perez was already scheduled to be on the card taking on Brandon Moreno (17-5-1). However, Perez will now jump into the main event of the evening.
This is a tough blow for the former UFC bantamweight champion, Cody Garbrandt. Garbrandt had gone through a rough time over the past couple of years, but made a big return at UFC 250 where he knocked out Raphael Assuncao.
After that knockout victory, Garbrandt announced he wanted to move down to flyweight to try to capture a second UFC title. Garbrandt wasn’t the biggest guy at bantamweight, and he felt he could easily make 125. His title opportunity is going to have to wait now.
Have confirmed via sources, Cody Garbrandt is out of his 125 pound title fight against Deiveson Figueiredo on 11/21. Alex Perez will take his spot. First reported by Combate.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) October 2, 2020
UFC 255’s New Main Event
What a golden opportunity this has turned into for Alex Perez. Perez is currently ranked fourth in the UFC‘s flyweight rankings. He will come into this title fight at 11-1 in his last 12 fights. The only loss coming to Joseph Benavidez back in 2018.
Perez has earned this title shot however, he’s going to have his hands full with the UFC‘s flyweight champion. Figueiredo will be making his first title defense after dominating Joseph Benavidez for the second time back in July.
Figueiredo was able to capture the undisputed UFC flyweight crown by choking Benavidez out cold in the first round. It was the second time this year that Figueiredo had stopped Benavidez cementing himself as the best flyweight in the UFC.
While it’s not the main event everyone wanted, it will still be a very solid flyweight title fight for the promotion. A huge opportunity for Perez and another tough blow for Cody Garbrandt.