On Saturday, Nov. 21, the UFC hosted UFC 255: Figueiredo vs. Perez from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event once again featured no fans in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the night’s main event, flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo defended his belt for the first time against challenger Alex Perez. Figueiredo choked perennial contender Joseph Benavidez unconscious in July to capture the belt. He was expected to face former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt, but Garbrandt was forced off the card. Stepping in is California’s Perez, who had won six of his seven Octagon appearances with the lone loss coming against the aforementioned Benavidez.
Gold was also on the line in the co-main event as reigning women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko took on former Invicta FC titleholder Jennifer Maia.
The event kicked off with three fights on both ESPN+ and ESPN 2 at 6:30 p.m. ET. Four additional prelims followed at 8 p.m. ET, also on both ESPN+ and ESPN 2. The five-fight main card aired live on ESPN+ pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET.
Valentina Shevchenko def. Jennifer Maia by unanimous decision (49-46 x3) – for women’s flyweight title
Tim Means def. Mike Perry by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Katlyn Chookagian def. Cynthia Calvillo by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Paul Craig def. Maurício “Shogun” Rua by TKO (punches). Round 2, 3:36
Brandon Moreno def. Brandon Royval by TKO (punches). Round 1, 4:59
Joaquin Buckley def. Jordan Wright by knockout (punches). Round 2, 0:18
Antonina Shevchenko def. Ariane Lipski by TKO (punches). Round 2, 4:33
Nicolas Dalby def. Daniel Rodriguez by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Alan Jouban def. Jared Gooden by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Kyle Daukaus def. Dustin Stoltzfus by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Sasha Palatnikov def. Louis Cosce by TKO (punches). Round 3, 2:27