Brandon Moreno has 'his night,' stops Kai Kara-France in Round 3 to assert meantime identity at UFC 277

DALLAS -- Brandon Moreno is once again a UFC champion. And over again, he appears to be on a collision course with Deiveson Figueiredo.

Moreno (20-6-2) claimed the period in-between one hundred twenty-five-pound titles in thrilling style Saturday, as he finished Kai Kara-France in the third spherical with an unpleasant left frame kick followed by way of floor and pound. The TKO got here at four mins, 34 seconds.

The identity fight co-headlined UFC 277 from inner American Airlines Arena. Figueiredo, the defending unified champion and an established rival of Moreno's, turned into in attendance cageside.

UFC in the beginning wanted Figueiredo to defend his name against Moreno this summer season, but Figueiredo was unavailable due to injury. 

"This guy proper right here, this night is his night time and he's the champion," Figueiredo said via an interpreter. "I have lots of appreciation for him. ... I need to take this fight domestic to Brazil."

Moreno, of Tijuana, quickly widespread the invitation. He additionally apologized to Figueiredo for any horrific blood among them in the past. The two have had a heated rivalry, on the whole from Figueiredo's side, because of 2020.BRANDON Moreno challenged FIGUEIREDO for the belt in December 2020 and fought him to a majority draw. He then beat Figueiredo with the aid of submission in a right-away rematch earlier than losing an arguable choice of their 1/3 fight in January.

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"I don't hate you. I don't sense anything in opposition to you. I forgive you," Moreno informed Figueiredo. "Please forgive me if I did something terrible against you. I need to combat in December."

Saturday's fight become Moreno's first because he left his authentic training camp in Mexico and joined forces with veteran MMA teacher James Krause in Missouri. It proved to be one of the maximum outstanding performances of his career. He already held a prior choice win over Kara-France (24-10) from 2019, and the rematch was similar in that Moreno truly had more equipment than the challenger.

He searched for the takedown when the possibility got here however didn't pressure it.

However, Kara-France, 29, becomes certainly competitive till the end. He relied totally on leg kicks as his primary offense and had success with it. Moreno's lead leg changed into very pink from kicks early on. In the third spherical, Kara-France did his great paintings after he caught a Moreno kick and dumped him to the floor. He landed a hard elbow from a pinnacle function that opened a reduce below Moreno's proper eye.

Just whilst it seemed Kara-France had seized momentum, however, Moreno caught him with a spinning back fist and then the body kick that placed him down. Kara-France immediately rolled over and blanketed up, which was introduced in a quick stoppage from referee Herb Dean, as Moreno swarmed him with hammer fists.

Moreno, who was cut from UFC in 2018, now holds a 4-1-2 record because of re-signing in 2019.

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UFC's Deiveson Figueiredo says he's almost recovered from accidents and anticipates going back by the iciness

30 Jul 2022

DALLAS -- Deiveson Figueiredo says he's nearly healthful and is targeting a go back to the Octagon this winter.

Figueiredo, the UFC flyweight champion, has been out given that January with injuries to both fingers and a bruised knee. With him out, the UFC made a meantime identify bout between former champ Brandon Moreno and Kai Kara-France, scheduled for Saturday night time inside the co-primary event of UFC 277 here at American Airlines Center.

Figueiredo, who flew in Thursday from his local Brazil to observe the fight, told ESPN that his health is at "95 percentage" and he believes he can return to combat the Moreno vs. Kara-France winner as early as December or January.

Amanda Nunes will try to recapture the UFC bantamweight title in opposition to Juliana Peña, and Brandon Moreno and Kai Kara-France combat for the interim flyweight name.

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Saturday, July 30, American Airlines Center, Dallas

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Figueiredo formerly stated he wasn't a large fan of the concept of a meantime title at the same time as he's sidelined, but he stated he is searching ahead to looking at the bout Saturday.

"It's a top-notch advertising and marketing plot on the part of the UFC to set up a high-quality fight between two remarkable opponents," Figueiredo stated thru an interpreter. "We recognize this isn't always the real belt. But it is a notable way to unify the titles. At the cease of the day, the champion from now goes to needs to combat the real champion, that is me. So, it all works out."

Figueiredo stated he isn't genuinely certain who will win Saturday, however, he is intrigued by way of Kara-France.

Figueiredo and Moreno have already fought 3 instances, though there is unfinished business. Figueiredo received the 1/3 combat in January to take the identity. Moreno took the identity inside the second combat last yr. And in 2020, in their first contest, the opponents went to a draw.

Though he stated it would not matter in the long run who he faces, Figueiredo is extra interested in a matchup with Kara-France, the slick-hanging New Zealander.

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"Kai Kara-France is a man I need to combat," Figueiredo stated. "I've fought the exceptional within the division, I've long gone via them. I assume it would be an amazing fight to combat Kai Kara-France next."

Figueiredo (21-2-1) has simply one loss in his past seven fights. He owns two hit UFC flyweight identify defenses and is tied for the most finishes (7) in UFC flyweight records, with longtime champion Demetrious Johnson.

During his day without work, Figueiredo said he has made changes in his life and camp. He left manager Wallid Ismail and signed with Vayner Sports and is now training at ChuteBoxe in Sao Paulo, Brazil, underneath instruct Diego Lima. Figueiredo, 34, maybe schooling with top UFC lightweight Charles Oliveira.

"Life is constituted of modifications," Figueiredo stated. "I just desired to get rid of things that had been now not doing me desirable and doing me a very good provider. I just want to be around things which might be healthful for me, for me to emerge as and be the champion I am."