Deiveson Figueiredo hopes to fight in Brazil after UFC Macau. |
Getty/UFC
After losing three of his last four fights, former flyweight champ
Deiveson
Figueiredo will look to get back on track against Yadong Song
in the
UFC Macau headliner on Saturday.
After having fought in Macau in 2024, the Brazilian veteran is a
little more prepared this time around.
“I fought Petr Yan here
in 2024, but I arrived too late and a little heavy, I felt the jet
lag quite a bit (there’s a 12-hour difference) and had a tough
weight cut,” Figueiredo told Sherdog.com. “This time I made sure to
come with my family earlier and arrive in China lighter. Today is
Monday and I weighed 67 kilgrams (147 pounds).
“Daico” also revealed that one of the advantages for this fight
with Song was the fact that he split his training camp between
The Fighting Nerds and
Pitbull Brothers.
“I spent two weeks in each one,” he said. “I had an excellent
experience with Jean [Silva] and Pablo Sucupira during those two
weeks in São Paulo at Fighting Nerds. In fact, it was Sucupira who
devised the entire strategy for this fight. Then I finished my camp
in Natal at Pitbull Brothers, where Patrick and Patricio added some
more details that I think will be very important in this
fight.”
Despite splitting his training camp between two schools known for
distance control, Figueiredo assures that his main focus will be
elsewhere.
“For this fight, I want to bring my most aggressive version,”
Figueiredo said. “Yadong is very fast and powerful with his
strikes. But I also hit hard and change levels very quickly. I can
take him down at any moment. I am very prepared for this fight, and
I will show that I am still alive in the category.”
Asked for a prediction on how he will beat the Chinese fighter,
Figueiredo stated: “A submission in the fourth round, where Yadong
loses a lot of his speed.”
UFC in Brazil and Hall of Fame Dream
In case of victory, Deiveson already knows when and where he wants
to return.
“I hope I don’t get injured in this fight so I can return in
October fighting in São Paulo,” he said.
After Ketlen
Vieira’s UFC release last week, Figueiredo knows that even as a
former champion, he has no guarantee of remaining employed.
“Without a doubt, when you go into a fight, there’s obviously a
risk, but I think in my case I always deliver good fights and
perform well,” said Figueiredo, who is 14-6-1 since joining the UFC
in 2017. “Furthermore, I’ve always made myself available to the
company. In the fight against [Cory] Sandhagen I was sick and had a
broken jaw, but since it was the main event. I didn’t withdraw.
“I think performance, history, and commitment are factors that the
company takes into account. I don’t see myself being fired by the
UFC now. This company changed my life and my dream is to retire in
the UFC and enter the Hall of Fame.”
The Flyweight GOATs
Asked to choose the three greatest fighters in the flyweight
division, where he was once a champion, Figueiredo places himself
third.
“I think Demetrious
Johnson is first because he broke all the Deiveson Figueiredo expects late finish of Yadong Song at UFC Macau defense
records. Then I would put Henry
Cejudo who won the belt in two divisions [in second]… and I
would come in third. I fought six times for the belt and I think I
made history in that division. Then I moved up and continued
fighting the best in the bantamweight division, where I hope to
compete for the belt again.”
Asked about his retirement plan, Deiveson points to Glover
Teixeira as his goal.
“Glover retired at 43 years old still fighting for the belt and
delivering great fights. I have him as a reference,” he said. “I
take good care of my body and eat well. I want to retire at 43 in
the UFC.”