UFC 256 title fight gives the flyweight division the boost it needed

Deiveson Figueiredo retained the flyweight title after fighting Brandon Moreno to a majority draw in the main event of UFC 256 on Saturday in Las Vegas.

In the co-headliner, Charles Oliveira dominated Tony Ferguson en route to a unanimous decision.

Here are four takeaways from the event.

Flyweight gets a much-needed boost

The epic title fight between Figueiredo and Moreno might just be what finally makes flyweight a popular division.

Figueiredo and Moreno threw down for five rounds, showing off their incredible heart and durability in one of 2020's best fights and arguably the greatest flyweight contest ever. Moreno refused to back down while getting tagged by the champion's power shots, and Figueiredo rallied back after seemingly getting tired midway through his second title defense.

It was impossible not to love every minute of the fight. While not all 125-pound bouts will be instant classics, you have to imagine more people are going to tune in for Figueiredo's and Moreno's fights moving forward, which could lead to more eyes on the division as a whole.

Flyweight has lacked fan appeal ever since the UFC introduced the division in 2012. Before Figueiredo held the belt, one of the all-time greatest mixed martial artists, Demetrious Johnson, reigned over the division, and then it was the charismatic Henry Cejudo. Still, many fans thought flyweights simply weren't exciting and that the division lacked depth.

The UFC nearly scrapped the weight class a couple of years ago, releasing several flyweights - including Moreno, which is crazy in hindsight - from the roster. But the promotion ultimately went in a different direction and has been working to rebuild the division since.

I suspect we'll look back at 2020 as an important year for the division's growth. Figueiredo, an exciting fighter with devastating knockout power, cemented himself as the new king, and his latest title defense was a thriller. Figueiredo could very well be on his way to stardom. But many challenges await him even after defending his belt twice in 21 days, with UFC president Dana White already declaring Moreno will get a rematch next year.

Thanks to a pair of warriors, the flyweight division has been handed a massive boost heading into 2021, which could prove to be the division's most successful year to date.

Oliveira puts lightweights on notice

If you didn't think Oliveira was a serious threat in the lightweight division before UFC 256, you definitely do now.

Oliveira put on a grappling clinic against former interim lightweight champion Ferguson, who was once considered Khabib Nurmagomedov's biggest threat. "Do Bronx" dominated him from start to finish to earn the biggest win of his veteran career.

Now, after extending his winning streak to eight, Oliveira is firmly among the elite of the elite. Fans will see him as someone who can beat anybody in the 155-pound division - the Dustin Poiriers, the Conor McGregors, the Justin Gaethjes. Oliveira called out the winner of Poirier-McGregor for a shot at the vacant title, and it's impossible to argue he shouldn't be fighting for a UFC belt in his next bout.

Oliveira has been unstoppable since returning to the lightweight division in 2017, but his rocky history makes his rise to contention even more incredible.

The 31-year-old made his UFC debut in 2010. He started out at lightweight but made a name for himself at featherweight. Oliveira never quite lived up to his potential at 145 pounds, however, often falling short in the big fights. Additionally, he was notorious for in-fight mental lapses and missing weight. Still, it was easy to recognize Oliveira's potential.

It took time - and choosing the proper weight class - but Oliveira has grown into a legitimate contender. All lightweights should be on high alert because "Do Bronx" is finally here.

Holland is a star in the making

Kevin Holland is shaping up to be a middleweight contender - and maybe even one of the UFC's most popular fighters.

As soon as he entered the Octagon on Saturday, the charismatic prospect started dancing, and his opponent, veteran fighter Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, joined in on the fun. But Holland meant business, and there was a sense we were about to witness something spectacular. And we did.

Souza scored a takedown about a minute-and-a-half in, but Holland immediately started landing with strikes from the bottom. While on his knees, Holland put Souza away with a devastating right hook. The sequence was insane and placed Holland on a list of three fighters who've gone 5-0 in a calendar year in modern UFC history.

Holland took advantage of his time on the microphone, calling out hot prospect Khamzat Chimaev for a fight on Dec. 19 - yes, this coming Saturday. While that obviously won't happen, Holland still created an interesting storyline that the UFC could capitalize on in the future.

After his truly vicious and unorthodox finish over Souza, I'm all in on "Trailblazer," a man who's on the rise at 185 pounds and could be the next big thing in the UFC.

Killer Cub ain't done yet

Veteran featherweight Cub Swanson showed out in a big way in the UFC 256 featured preliminary bout.

After sitting out for the past 14 months due to a torn ACL, the 37-year-old reminded fans that he still has gas left in the tank - and that underestimating him is a mistake. As the betting underdog, Swanson put away the surging Daniel Pineda with a brutal second-round knockout.

You could argue this was his best performance in years, as it was his first stoppage win since 2013. I sure didn't expect to see that from an aging veteran coming off a major knee surgery that easily could've ended his career.

One of the best featherweights never to challenge for a UFC belt, Swanson is likely past his prime. Having said that, the California resident has won two straight, and his four-fight skid that lasted from 2017-19 is far in the rearview mirror.

While Swanson may never be a top contender again, he's found some momentum. Let's see what he can do with it.