UFC Rio has had its ups and downs, and one former champion needs to get again into title rivalry.
UFC Rio co-headliner Deiveson Figueiredo clashed with Montel Jackson inside Farmasi Area final Saturday. Figueiredo went into the combat with two fights underneath his belt, realizing he wanted a win to take care of his standing within the bantamweight division. The match was determined, and “Figgy” gained by break up determination.
Figueiredo appeared on ESPN+’s post-fight present and expressed his need to compete in a possible No. 1 contender combat earlier than 2025 ends (through MMAJunkie).
“(I am) going to combat every time the UFC needs me to combat,” Figueiredo stated. “In all probability on the finish of the 12 months. If the UFC needs it, it might set us up effectively to combat for the belt.”
Figueiredo acknowledged that Jackson gave him a more durable time than anticipated together with his grappling protection.
“It was form of shocking how effectively he defended my takedown makes an attempt and all the pieces else,” Figueiredo stated. “However we practiced actually arduous. … He really landed and linked punches on the finish of the primary spherical, however nothing else. I used to be capable of put up a very good combat.”
A former two-time UFC flyweight champion, Figueiredo moved as much as the 135-pound weight class and located early success. He was on a three-fight successful streak at bantamweight with wins over Rob Font, Cody Garbrandt and Marlon “Tito” Vera. Figueiredo took a slight setback after losses to Petr Yan and Cory Sandhagen, however he hopes a win over Jackson will transfer him one step nearer to his subsequent title shot.
Present bantamweight titleholder Merab Dvalishvili is eyeing a rematch with Yan. Umar Nurmagomedov and Mario Bautista are set to conflict for a possible title eliminator. As such, Figueiredo might have no less than another win to qualify for the No. 1 contender’s combat.
