Moreno finally drew blood in the fourth frame when he landed a big left hand that the Brazilian claimed was a prick to the eye.
Referee Herb Dean stopped the contest between the third and fourth rounds after the ringside doctor declared that Figueiredo could not see out of his right eye. This was only the seventh stoppage between rounds in UFC championship history.
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Moreno finished the first round like he started it, dropping Figueiredo to the canvas, but getting himself in trouble again. He was saved by the bell and complained that Figueiredo kicked him in the head while he was on the ground.
The second round went to Figueiredo on the judges’ scorecards because Moreno barely escaped a guillotine after the fighters fell to the ground. Moreno once again finished the round on top of his opponent as the crowd grew impatient. The new flyweight champion was up 2-1 on all scorecards.
Figueiredo Could No Longer See Out of His Right Eye
Figueiredo, who only had 19 significant strikes, could no longer see out of his right eye when Moreno landed punches and kept him face up.
The ringside doctor inspected Figueiredo’s eye after the third round and stopped the fight, earning Moreno his second flyweight championship belt.
Moreno and Figueiredo shook hands after the fight and exchanged a few words before giving their post-fight interview.
“I was trying to be smart because the last one was so excited,” Moreno said.
Figueiredo announces, they no longer fight in the flyweight division
Moreno and Figueiredo will never have to fight again after this quadrilogy. The Mexicans officially win the rivalry with two wins, one loss, and one draw.
Figueiredo announced that he will no longer fight in the flyweight division and will move up in weight class.
“I’m tired of having to cut to reach this weight,” Figueiredo said.
Security guards had to carry Moreno back to the locker room as fans in the arena hurled objects at him.
