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Figueiredo-Garbrandt, Shevchenko-Maia championship bouts scheduled for UFC 255
July 19, 2020; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Deiveson Figueiredo of Brazil celebrates after defeating Joseph Benavidez in their UFC flyweight championship bout. Handout Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Figueiredo-Garbrandt, Shevchenko-Maia championship bouts scheduled for UFC 255

A pair of flyweight championship fights will headline the UFC 255 show scheduled for Nov. 21.

On Friday, ESPN's Brett Okamoto reported that UFC boss Dana White has confirmed that Deiveson Figueiredo will defend his flyweight strap versus Cody Garbrandt, while women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko will face off versus Jennifer Maia.

The venue has not yet been decided because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. It's also not known which fight will main-event the UFC 255 card.

Figueiredo won the vacant flyweight crown by stopping Joseph Benavidez in the first round of their July 18 showdown at the Fight Island site on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The champ improved to 19-1 that evening.

Garbrandt (12-3), a former UFC bantamweight champion, defeated Raphael Assuncao on June 6 and is making his debut at 125 pounds.

Shevchenko is chasing two-division champion Amanda Nunes for the right to be known as the greatest UFC competitor in the history of women's divisions. She beat Joanna Jedrzejczyk for the gold in December 2018 and has successfully defended the title on three occasions. "Bullet" improved to 19-3 with a win over Katlyn Chookagian this past February.

Maia upset Joanne Calderwood last Saturday to move to 18-6-1 and earn a shot at Shevchenko. 

BetOnline.ag has installed Figueiredo as a -200 favorite, while Shevchenko is listed at an overwhelming -1000 to defend her title.  

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