Top 5: UFC Men’s Flyweight Title Fights of All-Time

Nothing lasts forever. Henry Cejudo accomplished what was thought by some to be unthinkable when he deposed Demetrious Johnson by split decision in the UFC 227 co-headliner on Aug. 4, 2018 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, where he became the second undisputed flyweight titleholder in Ultimate Fighting Championship history. All three members of the cageside judiciary turned in 48-47 scorecards: Sal D’Amato and Ron McCarthy for Cejudo, Marcos Rosales for Johnson. Most observers agreed the decision could have gone in either direction.

Cejudo—a 2008 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling—completed takedowns in the second, fourth and fifth rounds and paired them with top control, helping to offset the damage he absorbed to the legs and body from repeated kicks. Johnson was credited with landing 30 more significant strikes (81) than his challenger (51), but his advantages on the feet were not enough to erase the hole that had been dug in the grappling exchanges. The setback was the first for “Mighty Mouse” as a flyweight and ended his historic reign atop the division at five years, 10 months and 13 days.

More than seven years later, it remains one of the greatest UFC flyweight title fights of all-time. Here are four more to consider:

Demetrious Johnson vs. Joseph Benavidez

UFC 152
Sept. 22, 2012 | Toronto
“Mighty Mouse” threw more and landed more, mixed in five takedowns and earned a split decision over Benavidez in their UFC 152 co-main event at the Air Canada Centre to become the first flyweight champion in UFC history. Judges Jeff Blatnick and Douglas Crosby scored it for Johnson by 48-47 and 49-46 counts, while Richard Bertrand saw it 48-47 for Benavidez. The two flyweights engaged one another for the full 25 minutes in a dazzling display of skill, speed and technique. Benavidez made his most significant moves in Round 2 and Round 4, nearly finishing it in the fourth, where he staggered the AMC Pankration cornerstone with a right hand and jumped into a mounted guillotine choke. Johnson struggled to free himself from the hold and was ultimately successful, threatening the San Antonio native with a leg lock before returning to his feet. More excellence lay ahead. Johnson—who opened a cut near the Team Alpha Male rep’s left eye with a stout right hand in the third round—answered the championship call in the fifth, where he delivered a pair of takedowns, countered beautifully and finished with a flourish.

Demetrious Johnson vs. John Dodson

UFC on Fox 6
Jan. 26, 2013 | Chicago
Johnson pushed a merciless pace and retained his Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight crown with a unanimous decision over “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 14 winner in the UFC on Fox 6 headliner at the United Center. Scores were 48-47, 49-46 and 48-47. Dodson spent himself in the first and second rounds, dropping the champion to a knee with a hearty left hand in the first before staggering him with another in the second. “Mighty Mouse”—who secured takedowns in all five rounds—never stopped moving forward, and he eventually wore down Dodson. Johnson brought the collar tie into play in Round 4, where he bludgeoned the challenger with repeated knees to the head and body. Much of the same unfolded in the fifth, as the Matt Hume protégé appeared close to a finish on more than one occasion. Though Dodson kept his nose in the fight, the decision was lost. Johnson outlanded the Jackson-Wink MMA rep in significant strikes in all five rounds and held a 127-57 overall advantage in the category.

Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

UFC 256
Dec. 12, 2020 | Las Vegas
Five rounds were not enough to settle the score, as Figueiredo retained his Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight title with a majority draw against Moreno in the UFC 256 headliner at the UFC Apex. Judges Sal D’Aamato and Junichiro Kamijo struck 47-47 scorecards, while Derek Cleary ruled 48-46 in Figueiredo’s favor. A third-round point deduction for a low blow ultimately cost the Brazilian a victory in a clear contender for “Fight of the Year.” It was a dogfight from start to finish. Figueiredo hit the Mexican star with everything in his arsenal, from spinning back kicks to the body and standing elbows to left hooks and heat-seeking jabs. Moreno refused to go away, answered at virtually every turn and, perhaps most importantly, mixed in multiple takedowns to keep the champion on his toes. With the result still very much in doubt, the challenger’s output waned in the fifth round, at least in part to an apparent arm injury. Figueiredo executed a late takedown, consolidated it with ground-and-pound and escaped with his championship reign intact.

Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Moreno

UFC 290
July 8, 2023 | Las Vegas
Pantoja laid claim to the undisputed flyweight championship with a split decision over “The Assassin Baby” in their UFC 290 co-main event at T-Mobile Arena. Judges Derek Cleary and Junichiro Kamijo saw it 48-47 for Pantoja, while Ben Cartlidge turned in a 49-46 scorecard for Moreno. Pantoja almost nailed down an early stoppage. He decked Moreno with a tightly wound left hook in the first round, trailed him to the mat and proceeded to draw blood with a series of elbows from top position. Moreno flexed the resilience upon which he has built his career, withstood the onslaught and set the stage for one of the most memorable bouts of 2023. He leaned into his jab, often backed it up with sharp right hands and hacked open a cut on Pantoja with a standing elbow in the third round. The Brazilian returned fire but made real headway in their grappling exchanges. Pantoja completed six of his 11 takedown attempts, racked up more than eight minutes of control time and attached himself to the Mexican star’s back in the waning seconds of the fifth round, tying a nice bow on his performance.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Demetrious Johnson vs. Kyoji Horiguchi, UFC 186; Alexandre Pantoja vs. Steve Erceg, UFC 301; Demetrious Johnson vs. John Dodson, UFC 191; Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, UFC 270; Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, UFC 263; Brandon Moreno vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, UFC 283; Demetrious Johnson vs. Ray Borg, UFC 216; Demetrious Johnson vs. Tim Elliott, “The Ultimate Fighter 24” Finale