UFC 277 featured an interim flyweight bout between Brendon Moreno and Kai Kara-France. During the broadcast, Joe Rogan seemed to imply that active champion Figueriredo won’t be defending his title in addition to making comments about how the title winning bout was close.
“[UFC 277 is] the real world title fight. I don’t think we’re ever going to see Deiveson Figueiredo down at 125 again, and I think those two gentlemen, there’s a real good argument that Moreno won that last fight as well. So that is, in my opinion, that’s the world title fight right there.”
The official result was Figueiredo earning a trio of 48-47 scores to earn a unanimous decision win.
Pantoja said at the UFC 277 news conference.
“He looks so fat. He says he has an injury in his hand and finger, but he looks fat. He can run, lift, but I don’t know, maybe he needs to find a better place to train. But in my position, I need to go back to the gym, work hard, and stay ready for whenever the UFC calls me.”
These comments triggered some immediately.
“Joe Rogan just completely s*it over Deiveson Figueiredo on the #UFC277 broadcast. Basically implied he’s not the real UFC flyweight champion. That was very odd.” – journalist Shaheen Al-Shatti wrote on twitter.
And while Rogan is not alone in suggesting Figueiredo looks noticeably bigger and will unlikely make 125lbs again it certainly didn’t sit right with him. He addressed the comments at the press conference following the bout.
“I’m gonna have to step into the octagon and go into the arena and look for Joe Rogan’s crystal ball.”
“I’m going to show it to him. I’m gonna maybe this could be a little friendly wager. I’m going to make weight and I’m gonna show it to him. And I’m gonna just basically tell him what’s up what’s what’s the what’s really going to happen.”