Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno will stand toe-to-toe again at UFC 263 on Saturday, June 12.
UFC fight fans will remember Figueiredo vs. Moreno as one of the best fights of 2020. The pair fought to a majority draw at UFC 256 in December and if it wasn’t for the spectacular UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship bout between Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Figueiredo vs. Moreno 1 would have been regarded as the very best fight of 2020.
Now, six months later, Figueiredo vs. Moreno will happen again but this time in front of fans at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
Figueiredo is the current betting favorite (-235) but do UFC fighters agree with the betting odds for this UFC Flyweight Championship match?
James Lynch asked fighters for their Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Moreno 2 predictions and analysis before UFC 263 takes place. Make sure to watch Lynch’s MMA Pros Pick series here.
Figueiredo vs. Moreno 2 is one of two title fights happening at UFC 263 on Saturday, June 12. The main event is a UFC Middleweight Championship bout featuring Israel Adesanya and Marvin Vettori.
UFC 263 is a pay-per-view event and will only be available to watch live on the ESPN+ digital streaming platform.
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Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno 2 predictions
Anthony Smith
“Well, if anything from what they say about Deiveson Figueiredo going into that last fight is correct, I’d probably say him. Because if he was as sick and as off as they say he was — and I’ve heard a lot of people say it — I’d imagine Deiveson Figueiredo [will win].”
– from interview with James Lynch
Adrian Yanez
“Speaking from my heart, I’m saying Brandon Moreno gets it. But if I’m looking at it technically-wise, then you can kind of see who was edging who out in certain positions and if it wasn’t for that point deduction then it would have went to Figgy. My heart says Moreno but my mind — whenever I’m looking at this — I’m picking Figgy.”
– from interview with James Lynch
Aleksandar Rakic
The first fight was crazy. Man, I don’t know what to say about this fight. This could be the fight of the night again. I go with Figueiredo because the power that he brings to this division is amazing.
– from interview with James Lynch
Aljamain Sterling
“I’m going to go with Moreno. I’m hoping he can make the adjustments; he’s got some nasty calf kicks. Figueiredo wasn’t kind of worried about his power and kept his hands down a lot but I know that if Moreno had a bit more time to train that fight could have been a bit different. Maybe that [the foul] could be the difference and Moreno gets his hand raised.”
– from interview with James Lynch
Cody Stamann
“I thought Moreno won the first fight. I definitely think that Moreno will win the second fight. Brandon Moreno is a lot smaller than Deiveson Figueiredo but I’ve had the opportunity to work with Brandon Moreno over the last few weeks and that kid has really impressed me. he’s really good. He’s a million times better than I thought he was. He’s impressive. I think Brandon Moreno will definitely win that rematch. He’ll have the time to make the adjustments. He’s a hard-working dude. He’s not going to be an easy guy to beat this September.”
– from interview with James Lynch
Curtis Blaydes
I like upsets — I’m going with Brandon Moreno. I’d like to see him slay that dragon that Deiveson Figueiredo’s riding.
– from interview with James Lynch
Dustin Jacoby
“I’m going to go with Brandon Moreno. I thought he won the first time, to be honest.”
– from interview with James Lynch
Eryk Anders
“The last one was a great fight. I think Brandon Moreno opened a lot of people’s eyes to his skillset, the way he can move, his wrestling looked really good and his speed in the scrambles also looked really well. I’m going to go with “The Assassin Baby” in the rematch.”
– from interview with James Lynch
Gerald Meerschaert
“I go with Figueiredo still. I just don’t see Brandon Moreno having enough power to make him second guess anything.”
– from interview with James Lynch
Grant Dawson
“Deiveson Figueiredo. I like Brandon and I like Brandon a lot, I like his style. But if Figueiredo haven’t got those points taken away he would have won the fight and it wouldn’t have been a draw. Also, he took that fight 21 days after his last fight and if you’ve ever cut weight before, making weight, winning, and then cutting weight again and making weight is a huge, huge thing. I think that he’ll win and I think that he’ll finish him.”
– from interview with James Lynch
Jack Hermansson
I was very impressed by Brandon Moreno in the last fight. I didn’t think he’d do that well. I was super impressed. He’s a guy that I really like. [I’m picking] Figueiredo.
– from interview with James Lynch
Jeff Molina
“I’ll take Moreno in the second go-around, man. I think the first fight was one of the best flyweight fights, if not the best flyweight fight, ever. Obviously, Figueiredo would have won if it wasn’t for the nut shot, the low blow. So, Tim Elliott has trained with Moreno from The Ultimate Fighter and Tim told me Moreno is the best flyweight he has ever trained with. Moreno takes this very seriously like he should, right, he’s very disciplined all year around. We’ve seen Figueiredo get big between camps and little things like that play a factor at the highest level. I see Moreno making the tweaks and adjustments to get it done but Figueiredo is no joke but I’ll take Moreno in that fight.”
– from interview with James Lynch
Kyle Daukaus
I’d say, Figueiredo. The first fight was really good and it was really back and forth but I feel like Figueiredo kind of has his number and I think he’ll finish the fight this time.
– from interview with James Lynch
Luis Pena
That’s a toss-up. For me, that is one of the few out of all the matches you’ve given me that’s the biggest toss-up. I think Figueiredo has the power to go in there and to really finish Moreno or just make it a really bad night for Moreno. But I think that if Moreno can go in there and make the adjustments and learn from that last fight he can go in there and win a decision. I don’t think Moreno can finish Figueiredo but I really do think that if he can make the right adjustments he can win that fight. I just think it’ll take a really good, solid game plan and a lot of heart.
– from interview with James Lynch
Luke Sanders
[I’m picking] Figueiredo. You can’t go against that dude, he’s a savage.
– from interview with James Lynch
Merab Dvalishvili
[I’m picking] Brandon Moreno. He’s a very talented kid and he’s training hard. He’s a good person, a really nice guy, and I want him to win. I think he’s going to win this rematch.
– from interview with James Lynch