- Reed Kuhn is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, and strategy and analytics consultant. He is the author of “Fightnomics: The Hidden Numbers and Science in Mixed Martial Arts,” the first book to quantify drivers and performance metrics in combat sports.
We’re getting our fourth and final title fight from Fight Island on Saturday, and this time it will determine the new flyweight champion following Henry Cejudo’s retirement. Deiveson Figueiredo had a chance to win the title in February, but he missed weight and was ineligible for the belt, despite beating Joseph Benavidez.
Still, these two are the best contenders in the division, and a rematch is compelling because of an inadvertent head-butt in the first meeting that could have swayed the fight in Figueiredo’s favor. We don’t always get a what-if replay when a fluke happens, but Fight Island delivers fantasies.
Even though a title was not conferred after the first meeting, the market was clearly swayed by the result. Figueiredo is now a clear favorite, whereas he was a slight underdog to Benavidez in February.
Prelims begin at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN+, and the main card starts at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook.
Flyweight championship: No. 1 Deiveson Figueiredo (-200) vs. No. 2 Joseph Benavidez (+170)
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