UFC Norfolk News

Chris Taylor - February 29, 2020

A key women’s featherweight bout between Felicia Spencer and Zarah Fairn served as the co-headliner of tonight’s UFC Norfolk event. The 29-year-old Canadian, Spencer (7-1 MMA), returns to action for the first time since suffering the first loss of her career to Cris Cyborg at UFC 240 by decision.

Chris Taylor - February 29, 2020

Joseph Benavidez has another chance to capture UFC gold when he squares off with Deiveson Figueiredo in the headliner of tonight’s UFC Norfolk event. Benavidez and Figueiredo were supposed to be fighting for the promotions vacant 125-pound title. However, after the Brazilian missed weight by 2.5lbs on Friday, now only ‘Joe’Jitsu’ is eligible to take home the belt.

Tom Taylor - February 28, 2020

Deiveson Figueiredo could have become a UFC champion this weekend. Unfortunately, a scale fail has dashed his title dreams. On Friday morning, Figueiredo missed weight for his flyweight title fight with Joseph Benavidez, which tops Saturday’s UFC Norfolk card. The Brazilian finished tipped the scales at 127.5 pounds, a significant 2.5 pounds over the 125-pound limit for flyweight title fights. While he was initially given an extra hour to make weight, he and his team ultimately abandoned their attempt to do so.

Natasha Hooper - February 28, 2020

Joseph Benavidez recently explained why he doesn’t need to beat Henry Cejudo to be worthy of the flyweight title. This weekend at UFC Norfolk, Benavidez will face Deiveson Figueiredo for the flyweight strap. The 125-pound belt is up for grabs ever since Henry Cejudo was stripped of the title. 

Tom Taylor - January 29, 2020

The UFC has released the official posters for two of its upcoming cards: UFC Norfolk, scheduled for February 29 in Norfolk, and UFC 248, scheduled for March 7 in Las Vegas. See these new fight posters below, as revealed by the UFC on Instagram.

Natasha Hooper - January 2, 2020

Henry Cejudo claimed the nickname “Triple C” after becoming a two-division champion of the flyweight and bantamweight division, but last month, it was announced that the Olympic wrestler had released his flyweight belt, leaving top-ranked fighters Joseph Benavidez and Deiveson Figueiredo to battle for the 125-pound strap in 2020. Their fight for the vacant flyweight title will headline the UFC Norfolk event on February 29. It will be only the second event held by the UFC in Norfolk. The first was UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs Pettis in November 2017.

Cole Shelton - December 23, 2019

Deiveson Figueiredo has violent intentions for Joseph Benavidez when they meet for the vacant flyweight title at UFC Norfolk. Earlier this week, BJPENN.com reported the title bout was set, and for Figueiredo, he was very surprised to discover he would be fighting for the vacant title.

Cole Shelton - December 19, 2019

Joseph Benavidez and Deiveson Figueiredo will finally share the Octagon in the main event of UFC Norfolk on Feb. 29, and a belt will be on the line. Sources close to the situation have informed BJPENN.com that the fight is targeted to headline the card and a contract to Figueiredo has been issued moments ago. It is not yet determined if this fight will be for the vacant or interim 125-pound strap.

Tom Taylor - November 15, 2017

Last weekend, the UFC returned to our screens with the action-packed UFC Norfolk card. In the main event of this thrilling card, dangerous lightweight contender Dustin Poirier took out a former champion in Anthony Pettis, scoring a bizarre stoppage with a body triangle mid way through a bloody third round. In the co-main event, meanwhile, we saw the maybe retiring Matt Brown author one of the most violent knockouts ever, putting down the veteran Diego Sanchez with a hellacious first-round elbow.

Tom Taylor - November 12, 2017

Last night, the UFC touched down in Norfolk, Virginia with the riveting UFC Fight Night 120. In the main event, we saw long-time lightweight contender Dustin Poirier score a strange but thrilling TKO win over former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis. In the co-main event, meanwhile, we saw the probably retiring Matt Brown author a hammer-like elbow KO win over fellow veteran Diego Sanchez. Elsewhere on the card, finally, we saw big wins from veteran fighters like Andrei Arlovski, Clay Guida, Raphael Assuncao and others.

Chris Taylor - November 11, 2017

A key lightweight scrap between Dustin Poirier and former division champion Anthony Pettis headlined tonight’s UFC Fight Night card in Norfolk, Virginia. Round one begins and Pettis starts things off with a side kick followed by a low kick. Poirier is pressing forward but Anthony catches him with another low kick. Dustin misses with an uppercut. Pettis leaps in with a flying knee followed by a left hand. Dustin shoots in and scores with a double leg takedown. Pettis is up against the fence which he might use to wall-walk here. Pettis is looking to lock up a guillotine choke. He switches to a kimura attempt. Poirier breaks free of the submission attempt and lands some shots to the body. Pettis scores a sweep and winds up on top. He opts to stand up and Poirier catches him with an elbow. Pettis lands a nice counter right hand over the top. He finds a home for it again. Poirier once again shoots in for a takedown but this time Pettis is able to defend. Anthony misses with a low kick and Poirier counters nicely with a left hand. That appeared to stun Pettis. Poirier comes forward with a combination. He is all over Pettis here. Anthony lands a spinning back fist. Poirier with another flurry. Round one comes to an end.

Chris Taylor - November 11, 2017

A welterweight scrap between veterans Matt Brown and Diego Sanchez served as the co-main event of tonight’s UFC Fight Night card in Norfolk, Virginia. Round one begins and Diego charges out quickly. He lands a right hand and then shoots in for a takedown. Brown works in an elbow as Sanchez wrestles for a single leg takedown. Matt is doing a good job of defending. Diego works in some knees to the thigh of Brown. Matt is trying hard to break off of the cage but Sanchez won’t let him. Brown finally breaks free. Diego catches him with a shot to the body. Brown circles and then connects with a nice left jab. Diego charges forward with a right hand over the top that just misses. He dives in for a single leg but it is not there. Brown lands a low kick followed by a jab. Diego returns fire with a kick of his own. He hurts Brown with that one. Matt briefly retreats and then comes back in the pocket. Brown lands a nice knee to the body. He follows that up with an elbow over the top that floors Diego. Oh my goodness. This one is all over!

Chris Taylor - November 11, 2017

A middleweight scrap between Nate Marquardt and Cezar Ferreira took place on tonight’s UFC Fight Night main card in Norfolk. Round one begins and Marquardt quickly takes the center of the octagon. Cezar fires off a low kick that connects. He attempts another but Nate is able to avoid the strike. Marquardt leaps in with a left hand. Cezar returns fire with a low kick. Marquardt is utilizing a lot of forward pressure early. “Mutante” lands a right hand followed by a low kick. Nate fires back with a low kick of his own. Cezar just misses with a straight left. He presses forward with a head kick but Nate blocks it rather easily. Marquardt misses with a right hand and eats a left. Cezar connects with a solid kick to the body. Nate circles out. Cezar with another solid low kick. Nate counters with a right hand that connects. Cezar tries to go upstairs with a head kick but it is blocked. Nate has a cut over his right eye. Cezar is also bleeding from a cut on the bridge of his nose. Cezar with another low kick that connects. Nate connects with a hard outside low kick that briefly sends Cezar to the canvas. Ferreira gets back up and Nate lands another good kick. Marquardt with a right hand. Round one comes to an end.

Chris Taylor - November 11, 2017

A bantamweight tilt between Raphael Assuncao and Matthew Lopez took place at tonight’s UFC Fight Night card in Norfolk. Assuncao battered Lopez’s lead leg with heavy kicks for the duration of the fight before eventually landing a huge right hand in round three that put Matthew away.

Chris Taylor - November 11, 2017

A lightweight scrap between veterans Clay Guida and Joe Lauzon kicked off tonight’s UFC Fight Night main card in Norfolk, Virginia. Round one begins and Guida is bouncing around early. He lands a low kick as Lauzon misses with a jab. Guida comes forward with a combination that hurts Lauzon. Joe is staggered. Another shot from Guida drops Lauzon. “The Carpenter” pounces on Joe Lauzon with punches and hammer fists from top position. Joe is in all sorts of trouble and Clay is relentless with this ground and pound. The referee is forced to step in and call an end to the contest.

Chris Taylor - November 11, 2017

A lightweight scrap between Sage Northcutt and Michel Quinones took place on tonight’s UFC Norfolk prelims. Round one begins and Michel starts off with a leg kick. Sage counters with a nice 1-2. Quinones attempts a superman punch but Sage greets him with another cross. Northcutt just misses with a spinning wheel kick attempt. Sage working his jab now. Michel attacks his lead leg and then connects with a right. Sage’s nose is now bloody. Northcutt circles and then lands a big shot the causes Michel to stumble back against the cage. Quinones comes forward wining shots. Sage once again counters nicely with a cross. Sage misses with another head kick attempt. He follows that up with a jumping knee but eats a side kick from Michel. Sage dives for a takedown as round one comes to an end.