UFC: How about Cody Garbrandt as Deiveson Figueiredo’s first challenger?

This weekend, the UFC crowned a new flyweight champion in Deiveson Figueiredo (19-1) after he destroyed Joseph Benavidez at UFC Fight Island 2.

Figueiredo proved to the world that he’s the best flyweight, but there is not really a clear next challenger for his title. I suggested Askar Askarov (12-0-1) following his win, but ESPN’s Brett Okamoto had another interesting thought.

UFC Flyweight Heating Up?

At first this might be completely out of left field. The former UFC bantamweight champion dropping down to flyweight just after a successful return to bantamweight?

However, Cody Garbrandt (12-3) has talked about a potential move to flyweight for years. He openly talked about wanting to drop down and fight Mighty Mouse Johnson when he was the flyweight king.

The UFC is currently targeting Marlon Moraes-Cody Garbrandt for an event in October. However, if the UFC calls Garbrandt with a title shot at 125, he might back out of the Moraes fight.

Figueiredo is going to be a tough challenge for anyone currently at flyweight. He has great ground skills, very good power, and he’s very long for the division. However, Garbrandt would pose interesting challenges.

“No Love” might be the fastest puncher in the UFC. His boxing is very crisp and powerful. It would be interesting to see Figueiredo try to deal with the challenges that Garbrandt would provide.

I really don’t think that Garbrandt would have trouble making the weight. Bantamweight does not seem like a difficult cut for him at all. I think he’d make it easier than TJ Dillashaw did.

We don’t know what the UFC will do with Figueiredo yet, but Garbrandt would definitely be a sexy option for the promotion. If Garbrandt were to win, he could always try for a double champ status down the road.