We are now tantalisingly close to UFC 255, one of the most anticipated combat sport events in recent memory. There are countless talented fighters in MMA today but Deiveson Figueiredo and Alex Perez are two of the very best. Both fighters are going into the bout in great form but which one will emerge victorious with the UFC flyweight championship? If you are struggling to pick which of the pair has the best chance of winning, check out our mini guide to the fight below for some pointers.

Deiveson Figueiredo

Figueiredo goes into the match as the reigning, defending champion and the clear favourite. The 32-year-old has been one of the most consistently successful fighters in UFC history and currently boasts an incredible record of 19-1-0.  He made a name for himself in his native Brazil, accruing a record of 11-0 fighting for several different promotions. This fine form was enough to attract the attention of UFC president Dana White who signed him in 2017. Despite being fairly old for a new fighter, Figueiredo wasted little time getting acquainted with his new surroundings, winning each of his first four fights, three of which by TKO.

His only ever defeat as a professional came against Jussier Formiga in March 2019, a bout that went all three rounds which he eventually lost by unanimous decision. Since this setback, Figueiredo have been absolutely flawless. In his last fight he was finally rewarded for his consistency with a shot at the Flyweight Championship. He won the match as well, besting Joseph Benvidez for the belt. He is a fearsome striker, defeating many of his opponents with his lethal punches. However, he is also a talented submission artist. In his last fight against Benavidez, a rear-naked choke got him the win. In the past, he’s used guillotine choke holds to get the job done. Perez needs to watch out for this lethal move if he has any chance of getting the win.

Alex Perez

Coming into the title bout, Perez is the underdog. In fact, the 28-year-old only received a shot at the belt because Figueiredo’s scheduled opponent, Cody Garbrandt suffered a torn bicep in training.

The odds may be stacked against him but Perez is a talented fighter and as recent history shows, anything is possible in the UFC. The American had an unconventional route into the UFC, earning his contract after defeating Kevin Gray during an episode of Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contenders Series – a breeding ground for MMA hopefuls. He made his promotional debut for the company in December 2017, defeating Carlos John de Tomas by submission in the second round. He followed this up with back-to-back victories over Eric Shelton and Jose Torres, before finally tasting defeat against Benavidez via TKO.

Like his opponent at UFC 255, Perez is an adept striker who can also mix it up with some submission holds. His first two UFC bouts were won via Anaconda Choke and he also has three TKOs to his name.