JP Buys steps in to fight Francisco Figueiredo at May 8 UFC card following Jimmy Flick’s retirement

Francisco Figueiredo has a new opponent for May 8 in the UFC.

With Jimmy Flick out of the card after surprisingly announcing his retirement from the sport, Figueiredo agreed to face JP Buys at the Fight Night show, multiple people with knowledge of the change told MMA Fighting. Ag. Fight first reported the news.

Buys (9-3) takes the quick turnaround after losing via second-round knockout to Bruno Silva in March. The South African flyweight earned a shot in the UFC in his second appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series this past November, when he stopped Jacob Silva in the opening round.

Figueiredo (12-3-1, 1 NC), the brother of UFC flyweight titleholder Deiveson Figueiredo, was successful in his UFC debut when he defeated Jerome Rivera via unanimous decision in January. It was Figueiredo’s first MMA bout since fighting to a draw in a championship bout at a Jungle Fight show in August 2019.

The Fight Night event will be headlined by former bantamweight titleholder T.J. Dillashaw taking on Cory Sandhagen at a yet-to-be-announced location.