Former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo is wasting no time in his quest to become a two-weight world champion.
The Brazilian is already a two-time champion at 125 pounds, but after losing his title to Brandon Moreno at UFC 283 in their epic quadrilogy back in January 2023, “The God of War” opted to move up to bantamweight, and has looked every inch a title contender in his new weight class.
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Deiveson Figueiredo feeling strong after move to bantamweight
“I spent a lot of time in the lower weight division, but decided to move up,” he told reporters on media day ahead of fight night in Macau.
“I did have a lot of success there, but I decided to move up and I found myself in this division. I feel great. My mind and my body are healthy. I think I feel stronger and, as you can see, I’ve been winning all my fights.”
He put the division on notice with a decision victory over perennial contender Rob Font on his bantamweight debut, then submitted former 135-pound champion Cody Garbrandt at UFC 300 to underscore his credentials. A decision win over former title challenger Marlon Vera in Abu Dhabi in August cemented his status as a bonefide threat to the bantamweight title.
Now Figueiredo has his sights set on a title shot, and sees victory over another former world champion as the perfect springboard to a title challenge in 2025.
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Deiveson Figueiredo relishing Petr Yan test at UFC Macau
Figueiredo takes on former undisputed bantamweight champion Petr Yan in the main event of UFC Macau this weekend in a fight that could push the winner into a possible title fight in the first half of next year.
And, boosted by his three impressive showings at 135 pounds so far, the 36-year-old said that the time is right for him to make a run at the bantamweight crown currently held by Georgia’s Merab Dvalishvili.
“Saturday against Petr Yan, beating him will put me in great position to fight for the title,” he stated.
“He’s a guy who is strong in the striking, and by beating him I want Merab after him.”
Figueiredo’s bout with Yan tops the fight card in Macau this weekend, and has all the makings of a fight of the year contender. It’s a fight Figueiredo said he’ll relish.
“I’m feeling 100 percent, I’m feeling 200 percent!” he said.
“I’m about to take on a great name, great dude. But he’s about to take on a big, great name as well. You can be sure I have a great strategy to finish him this Saturday.”
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