Maybe UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo had a plane to catch.
Figueiredo used a guillotine choke to tap out up and coming challenger Alex Perez and defend his belt for the first time since winning it in July.
After some early strikes by both fighters, Perez caught a kick and tried to counter a leg submission from the guard by taking the back of Figueiredo. But the champion quickly rolled around and slapped on the guillotine, forcing the referee to call the bout at 1:57.
With the win, Figueiredo has now won five consecutive bouts. He was originally supposed to fight Cody Garbrandt, but Garbrandt had to pull out with an injury.
50K for dominant showings!
💰 @NewMansa94
💰 @AntoninaPantera[ B2YB @P3Protein ] pic.twitter.com/WPKNkrUCej
— UFC (@ufc) November 22, 2020
Started the night strong!
'Fight of the Night' goes to @LouisCosce707 vs @PalatnikovMMA 💸 #UFC255
[ B2YB @ToyoTires ] pic.twitter.com/uEI0H1qmIr
— UFC (@ufc) November 22, 2020
Sasha Palatnikov and Louis Cosce earned Fight of the Night, while Joaquin Buckley and Antonina Shevchenko earned performance of the night. Each fighter earned a $50,000 USD bonus.
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the card.
UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMS
LOUIS COSCE VS. SASHA PALATNIKOV
That's how you start the night 😤@PalatnikovMMA closes a WILD ONE to open #UFC255.
[ Action continues on ESPN2, #ESPNPlus & @UFCFightPass ] pic.twitter.com/Wml4bAAccb
— UFC (@ufc) November 22, 2020
WINNER: SASHA PALATNIKOV VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R1 3:27
ANDREWS PREDICTION: LOUIS COSCE VIA TKO
Andrews: Wow! Cosce was having his way but then Sasha started cooking and pulled a Joe Frazier. Hong Kong is proud.
KYLE DAUKAUS VS. DUSTIN STOLTZFUS
Philly's own!
🔔 @KyleDaukaus dominates en route to a UD victory. #UFC255 pic.twitter.com/Ri7nxMoBjm
— UFC (@ufc) November 22, 2020
WINNER: KYLE DAUKAUS VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: DUSTI STOLTZFUS VIA UD
Andrews: Good win for Kyle. Didn’t need the ground much here.
ALAN JOUBAN VS. JARED GOODEN
What a fight! @AlanJouban rings in his birthday with a UD win in Vegas 🧁 #UFC255 pic.twitter.com/g0OE3ulbgW
— UFC (@ufc) November 22, 2020
WINNER: ALAN JOUBAN VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: JARED GOODEN VIA TKO
Andrews: Jouban at 37 dug deep to pull out another great performance.
UFC 255 PRELIMS
NICOLAS DALBY VS. DANIEL RODRIGUEZ
ALL ABOARD 🚂
🇩🇰 @DalbyMMA earns the 29-28, 29-28, 30-27 scorecards. #UFC255 pic.twitter.com/wsRX7VryEp
— UFC (@ufc) November 22, 2020
WINNER: NICOLAS DALBY VIA UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: DANIEL RODRIGUEZ VIA TKO
Andrews: Rodriguez got outworked. Good win.
ANTONIA SHEVCHENKO VS. ARIANE LIPSKI
And the Shevchenko's start 1️⃣-0️⃣!
🇰🇬 @AntoninaPantera shows she can get it done on the ground in RD 2. #UFC255 pic.twitter.com/UKchqRLIxb
— UFC (@ufc) November 22, 2020
WINNER: ANTONINA SHEVCHENKO VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R2 4:33
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ARIANE LIPSKI VIA UD
Andrews: No doubt about this one. Dominant win for another Shevchenko.
JOAQUIN BUCKLEY VS. JORDAN WRIGHT
New Mansa!
Talk about a fighter to watch in 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣1️⃣! #UFC255 pic.twitter.com/zV7pDThlxS
— UFC (@ufc) November 22, 2020
WINNER: JOAQUIN BUCKLEY VIA KO (PUNCH) R2 0:18
ANDREWS PREDICTION: JORDAN WRIGHT VIA TKO
Andrews: Good work by Buckley to finish it early. Wright just got overpowered and outs truck.
BRANDON MORENO VS. BRANDON ROYVAL
TWISTER INCOMING!? 👀 #UFC255 pic.twitter.com/JNtdnslll9
— UFC (@ufc) November 22, 2020
WINNER: BRANDON MORENO VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R1 4:59
ANDREWS PREDICTION: BRANDON ROYVAL VIA UD
Andrews: That was an intense scrap. Amazon win by Moreno, he has to be next for Deiveson. Hope Royval’s shoulder is okay.
UFC 255 MAIN CARD
MAURICO RUA VS. PAUL CRAIG
BEARJEW 🏴@PCraigMMA forces Shogun to tap from strikes in RD 2️⃣.
[ Get the #ESPNPlus PPV: https://t.co/5hyUH7SOn5 ] pic.twitter.com/l4380ldjuJ
— UFC (@ufc) November 22, 2020
WINNER: PAUL CRAIG VIA TKO (PUNCHES) R2 3:36
ANDREWS PREDICTION: MAURICO RUA VIA UD
Andrews: Rua finally broke down. He got a draw the first time, but he looked old here. It’s time to hang them up.
KATLYN CHOOKAGIAN VS. CYNTHIA CALVILLO
Blonde Fighter bounces back!
👩🏼 @BlondeFighter with a big win in Vegas tonight. #UFC255 pic.twitter.com/HdjjPLlLMq
— UFC (@ufc) November 22, 2020
WINNER: KATLYN CHOOKAGIAN VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: CYNTHIA CALVILLO VIA UD
Andrews: Calvillo uses her grappling and takedowns to nullify the striking of Katlyn.
TIM MEANS VS. MIKE PERRY
Dirty Bird!
🐦 @MeansTim gets the UD after a back and forth battle. #UFC255 pic.twitter.com/r4UOuyZOqz
— UFC (@ufc) November 22, 2020
WINNER: TIM MEANS VIA UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: MIKE PERRY VIA TKO
Andrews: Perry did show up, but give Means credit for taking the punishment and dishing out a bit more.
VALENTINA SHEVCHENKO VS. JENNIFER MAIA
No better tradition 💃 #UFC255 pic.twitter.com/A8PmqcCxaC
— UFC (@ufc) November 22, 2020
WINNER: VALENTINA SHEVCHENKO VIA UD (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: VALENTINA SHEVCHENKO VIA TKO
Andrews: Maia is tough enough to take a round, but ‘The Bullet’ has too much firepower.
MAIN EVENT
DEIVESON FIGUEIREDO VS. ALEX PEREZ
UNDER TWO MINUTES.
🏆 @Daico_Deiveson's legacy is off and running! #UFC255 pic.twitter.com/kCZdnIAtPM
— UFC (@ufc) November 22, 2020
WINNER: DEIVESON FIGUEIREDO VIA SUBMISSION (GUILLOTINE CHOKE) R1 1:57
ANDREWS PREDICTION: DEIVESON FIGUEIREDO VIA TKO
Andrews: Get Demetrious Johnson back and let’s see what happens.
