FRANCISCO FIGUEIREDO VS. JEROME RIVERA
Francisco Figueiredo arrives in the UFC flyweight division eager to follow in his brother’s footsteps as he debuts against tough New Mexico product Jerome Rivera.
A little less than two years younger than his brother, UFC flyweight kingpin Deiveson Figueiredo, the 31-year-old “Sniper” is 11-3-1 overall and unbeaten in his last three. Though he’s fought an uneven collection of opposition over the last couple years, working with his brother and the team he’s assembled can only help the younger Figueiredo, who will need to set aside the pressure of living up to his brother’s exploits as he makes the walk to the Octagon for the first time.
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Rivera earned a win on Season 4 of the Contender Series, but didn’t secure a contract, only to receive a short-notice opportunity a couple weeks later. Though he landed on the wrong side of the results against Tyson Nam, it was a way onto the roster for the Luttrell/Yee MMA & fitness representative, who is 10-3 overall.
Can Figueiredo earn a victory to become the latest brother tandem to each score wins in the UFC or will Rivera spoil his debut and collect his first UFC victory in the process?
MIKE DAVIS VS. MASON JONES
Contender Series alum Mike Davis looks to build off his third-round stoppage win over Thomas Gifford here as he makes his third UFC start against promising promotional newcomer Mason Jones.
Davis was favored heading into his matchup against Sodiq Yusuff on Season Two of the Contender Series, which tells you how highly folks thought of “Beast Boy” back then. Though he lost that contest, Davis responded with consecutive stoppage wins under the Island Fights banner to earn a short-notice opportunity in the Octagon, then bounced back from that loss to Gilbert Burns to stop Gifford in October 2019.
Injuries kept him sidelined throughout 2020, but now he gets the chance to remind everyone of his potential with another prime assignment against a fellow talented lightweight as he welcomes Jones to the Octagon for the first time.
The 25-year-old Jones was a two-weight champion under the Cage Warriors banner, winning the lightweight and welterweight belts in his last two appearances. Just the second fighter to achieve the feat — Conor McGregor is the other, in case you’re wondering — “The Dragon” carries a 10-0 record and a ton of potential into his debut on Wednesday.
Both men have the potential to make some noise in the lightweight division going forward, so it’s going to be interesting to see how this one shakes out.
