Former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo expressed his thoughts after his loss to Mexican fighter Brandon Moreno in the UFC 283 co-main event.
Unfortunately, it's time to leave this division. Congratulations to Brandon, and I'm moving up in weight. The eye poke? Tonight was Brandon's night, I felt like there was a poke in the eye. I felt it was a poke, I hope I don't have long-term effects on my eye.
Deiveson Figueiredo after the fight
Moreno and Figueiredo's fourth fight ended between the third and fourth rounds. Midway through the third five-minute round, Moreno legally hit Figueiredo in the right eye with his thumb knuckle. The Brazilian's eye quickly swelled and there was a severe split under it. Doctors forbade Deiveson to go to the fourth round. Thus, Moreno was awarded the victory by TKO. He became the new UFC bantamweight champion.
Figueiredo, 35, has 21 wins and three losses. Moreno, 29, has 21 wins and seven losses.