Deiveson Figueiredo says he’s capable of safely cutting back down to flyweight for a UFC title rematch with Alexandre Pantoja.
[autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag]’s priorities remain in the UFC bantamweight division, but the only thing standing between him and a return to flyweight to rematch champ [autotag]Alexandre Pantoja[/autotag] is an official offer.
In the aftermath of his UFC 310 title defense over Kai Asakura this past Saturday, Pantoja (29-5 MMA, 13-3 UFC) said he would be interested in a second fight with Figueiredo (24-4-1 MMA, 13-4-1 UFC), who beat him by unanimous decision at UFC 240 in July 2019.
However, Pantoja said he had concerns about Figueiredo’s ability to safely cut back down to the 125-pound division. Figueiredo is a two-time titleholder at flyweight, but he moved up to 135 pounds in December 2023 and has since gone 3-1. The Brazilian said the physical task of moving back down would be a non-issue.
“If I want to come down to 125, I can do it,” Figueiredo told MMA Junkie through an interpreter. “I’m very disciplined. When I want something, it’s not a problem. I think that Pantoja knows I’m a complicated matchup, complicated style, complicated game for him. I saw him challenge a guy who is retired and doesn’t want to fight anymore, so I just left that option open to him and to the UFC if that’s something they want to do.
“Would it be some sacrifice for me to get down to that weight? Yes. But I could do it. But I am at the command of the UFC if they want to do that fight. I am open to it. All they have to do is send the contract.”
Although Figueiredo has seemingly comfortably moved on to a new chapter of his career at bantamweight, the idea of a rematch with Pantoja has come out of a degree of desperation due to his dominance over the weight class.
Much has changed for both men since they last met, but Figueiredo still sees himself as the better man.
“I don’t think that Pantoja improved that much,” Figueiredo said. “His striking is still about what it is. He’s a very good grappler. I’m also from jiu-jitsu. I think that a fight between me and him, we could both submit each other. It would be down to small mistakes one or the other made. I’m not sure that the UFC wants this fight to happen, because I am definitely capable taking that belt away.”
Until a decision about Pantoja’s next opponent is made, Figueiredo said he will proceed with business as usual. He is just weeks removed from a key loss to Petr Yan at UFC Fight Night 248 in a bout that could’ve potentially landed him a title shot. He’s still not far from gold, and a potential chance to become the 10th fighter in UFC history to capture titles across two weight classes.
That, for now, remains Figueiredo’s primary source of motivation.
“I’m focused on being the 135 champ,” Figueiredo said. “I have some adjustments to make. The 135 title, I’m focused on that. I’m going to make some adjustments to my game and reinvent myself and get that title.”
Deiveson Figueiredo was as humble as it gets in the aftermath of his UFC Macau main event loss to Petr Yan.
[autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] was as humble as it gets in the aftermath of his UFC Fight Night 248 main event loss to Petr Yan.
Figueiredo (24-4-1 MMA, 13-4-1 UFC) saw his perfect run since moving up to bantamweight spoiled by fellow former champion Yan (18-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) on Saturday in the form of a unanimous decision loss at Galaxy Arena in Macau. It was an entertaining battle, but ultimately the Brazilian lost every round on all three judges’ scorecards, setting him back in his pursuit to add another divisional title to his resume alongside the flyweight strap.
Instead of making excuses about why his hand wasn’t raised, though, Figueiredo paid all credit forward to Yan, and promised to make a strong comeback from the defeat.
“God damn, what a fight,” Figueiredo said through an interpreter during his in-cage interview with Michael Bisping. “You know guys, tonight was Petr Yan’s night. But God doesn’t give you a burden heavier than you can carry. Tonight was his night and we’ll come back stronger. I always do this. I always come back stronger, but tonight was Petr Yan’s night.”
After holding the 125-pound title on two occasions, Figueiredo moved up to bantamweight in December and rattled off consecutive wins over Rob Font, Cody Garbrandt and Marlon Vera. He could not get past Yan, however, who put on a clinic over five rounds to put himself back on the map as a title contender.
[autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] saw his perfect run at bantamweight come to an end against Petr Yan in the UFC Fight Night 248 main event.
After changing divisions from flyweight and going 3-0, two-time former champion Figueiredo (24-4-1 MMA, 13-4-1 UFC) couldn’t quite meet the level of Yan (18-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC), who controlled the action en route to a unanimous decision triumph at Galaxy Arena in Macau.
It was a tough setback for the Brazilian, but he vowed to “come back stronger” in his post-fight interview, and still seems to have the skills to compete with an beat many of the best at 135 pounds.
What next for Figueiredo? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on his future after UFC Fight Night 248.
The UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program has now paid out $30 million to athletes since its deal began with Venum.
MACAU – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 248 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $160,000.
The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.
UFC Fight Night 248 took place at Galaxy Arena. The entire card streamed on ESPN+.
The full UFC Fight Night 248 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:
Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2481 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.
In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.
Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:
“UFC Fight Night 248: Yan vs. Figueiredo” – $160,000
Petr Yan put on a masterclass in the UFC Fight Night 248 main event when he defeated Deiveson Figueiredo, then called out Merab Dvalishvili.
[autotag]Petr Yan[/autotag] is back in the title discussion at bantamweight.
At UFC Fight Night 248, Yan (18-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) masterfully defeated [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] (24-4-1 MMA, 13-4-1 UFC) by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45). The event took place Saturday at Galaxy Arena in Macau, China.
It only took Figueiredo less than half a minute to drag Yan down to the canvas at the start of the fight. Yan eventually worked his way into a controlling position on top, however, in Figueiredo’s guard. Yan landed some ground-and-pound before the two rose to their feet prior to the end of the round.
In Round 2, Yan’s takedown defense held up more effectively as he shoved off multiple Figueiredo attempts at grabbing a leg. Striking battles ensued with both men landing solid shots. Yan swept Figueiredo’s leg and landed on top shortly before the round ended.
The third round saw Yan drop Figueiredo with a slick punch, but the Brazilian former champion hung tough. The championship rounds seemingly escalated the fight to another level, as the two top bantamweight contenders showed why they are viewed as some of the world’s most elite.
When the dust settled and the scorecards were read, Yan was named the victor by the three cageside judges, who scored every single round in his favor.
After the fight, Yan called for a fight against bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili. The two fought in March 2023 when Dvalishvili defeated Yan by decisive five-round unanimous decision.
Figueiredo loses for the first time at bantamweight in the UFC. Prior to Saturday’s loss, he beat Rob Font, Cody Garbrandt, and Marlon Vera in succession to establish himself among the division’s elite.
The up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 248 results include:
Petr Yan def. Deiveson Figueiredo via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
The MMA community reacted to Petr Yan’s thrilling victory over Deiveson Figueiredo in the UFC Fight Night 248 main event.
[autotag]Petr Yan[/autotag]’s resurgence as a bantamweight contender took another big step Saturday when he defeated fellow former UFC champion [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] in the UFC Fight Night 248 main event.
Yan (18-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) earned a unanimous decision victory over Figueiredo (24-4-1 MMA, 13-4-1 UFC) in their headlining showdown at Galaxy Arena in Macau, putting himself back on the map as a title threat at 135 pounds.
Check below for the top X (formerly Twitter) reactions to Yan beating Figueiredo at UFC Fight Night 248.
Here’s when to expect Petr Yan and Deiveson Figueiredo to make their cage walks at UFC Fight Night 248.
A pivotal bantamweight bout headlines UFC Fight Night 248 as former 135-pound champion [autotag]Petr Yan[/autotag] takes on former flyweight champ [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag]. This bout scheduled for five rounds is taking place Saturday, Nov. 23 at Galaxy Arena in Macau.
No. 3 and No. 5, respectively, in the official UFC bantamweight rankings, Yan (17-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC) and Figueiredo (24-3-1 MMA, 13-3-1 UFC) are fighting for the attention of champion Merab Dvalishvili, who’s been tepid about his first title defense being against Umar Nurmagomedov.
Yan got back on track in his most recent appearance this past March at UFC 299 where he won a unanimous decision against Song Yadong to snap a three-fight skid. Prior to that, Yan had dropped three in a row to Aljamain Sterling (to lose his title), Sean O’Malley and Dvalishvili.
Since moving up to bantamweight last December, Figueiredo has been active, with this his fourth fight in the past 11 months. He’s also been on a roll and become an immediate top contender at 135 pounds after consecutive wins over Rob Font, former champ Cody Garbrandt and most recently former title challenger Marlon Vera.
Here are the walkout times for the UFC Fight Night 248 main event between Yan and Figueiredo.
When does the UFC Fight Night 248 fight card start?
The UFC Fight Night 248 lineup consists of 13 fights. With the event happening in primetime locally, prelims start at 3 a.m ET and the main card at 6 a.m. ET.
Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo walkout time
As the main event, Yan and Figueiedo are expected to walk out to the cage at approximately 8:30 a.m. ET (12:30 a.m. locally in Macau).
Analyzing Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 248 odds between Petr Yan and Deiveson Figueiredo, with MMA picks and predictions.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]
In a 5-round bantamweight bout in the main event, Petr Yan and Deiveson Figueiredo battle at UFC Fight Night 248 Saturday at Galaxy Arena in Cotai, Macau. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s UFC odds around the UFC Fight Night 248: Yan vs. Figueiredo odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.
The prelims begin at 3 a.m. ET, with the main card beginning at 6 a.m. ET. All events can be viewed or streamed on ESPN+.
Records: Yan (17-5-0) | Figueiredo (24-3-1)
Yan, a former champ, is looking to work his way back to the top of the division. He lost his strap to Aljamain Sterling at UFC 273 in a split-decision setback April 9, 2022.
Yan also lost via split decision to Sean O’Malley at UFC 280, before a unanimous-decision loss to Merab Dvalishvili in March 2023. He finally stemmed the tide of losing with a unanimous-decision victory over Song Yadong at UFC 299. You’re probably noticing a pattern, as that’s 5 straight fights to go the distance.
Figueiredo, also a former champ, has posted 3 straight wins over quality opponents since losing his belt to Brandon Moreno at UFC 283 in the fourth fight of their rivalry. Figueiredo topped Rob Font via unanimous decision, he submitted Cody Garbrandt in Round 2 at UFC 300, and he won via unanimous decision against Marlon Vera in Aug. 2024.
Figueiredo holds a slight 1-inch reach advantage, while Yan has a solid 5.14-to-3.01 significant strikes landed per minute advantage. The difference is negligible in significant strikes accuracy percentage, with Figueiredo holding an advantage by less than 1%.
The same holds true in takedown average, with Yan leading 1.73 to 1.68, although he is much more effective at 51.02% in takedown accuracy percentage, to just 35.94% for the Brazilian. When Figueiredo gets you on the canvas, though, he is much more effective with a 1.60 submission average, to just 0.14 for Yan.
Call me crazy, but FIGUEIREDO (+250) looks like a live ‘dog at this price. He will help you more than double up, and really, he has been fighting better than Yan (-310) lately.
The Brazilian has 3 straight victories over Font, Garbrandt and Vera — some of the biggest names in the division — as Figueiredo looks to position himself for 1 final shot at the strap.
If he is to win this bout, he’ll need to avoid a toe-to-toe brawl with Yan, and it would behoove him to get to the canvas as early as possible. Figueiredo will win this bout with a solid showing with plenty of top position, especially since neither of these fighters has had a lot of finishes lately, and it’s all about style points.
OVER 4.5 ROUNDS (-174) is slightly more expensive, but it gives you a little big of wiggle room in the event of a potential late finish in Round 5. Yes: Will fight go the distance (-172) is slightly cheaper, but not as good of a play.
Again, Yan has ended up going the distance in 5 consecutive fights, while Figueiredo has ended up going all the way in 3 of the previous 5 outings.
FIGUEIREDO ON POINTS (+460) is also too tempting to pass up. If you like the underdog to win, that’s certainly worth a roll of the dice.
Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.
Deiveson Figueiredo wants to join the two-division title club and sees his UFC Macau fight vs. Petr Yan punching his ticket to a title shot.
[autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] is on a mission to become the 10th fighter in UFC history to claim titles in two weight classes, and beating Petr Yan in the UFC Fight Night 248 headliner would be a big next step.
Former two-time flyweight champion Figueiredo (24-3-1 MMA, 13-3-1 UFC) is unbeaten in three fights since moving up to bantamweight in December. He’s already taken out former champion Cody Garbrandt and one-time title challenger Marlon Vera in his new weight class, but taking out a highly-regarded former 135-pound titleholder like Yan (17-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC) would take his resume to the next level.
Things are firing on all cylinders for Figueiredo, he said, and he expects his momentum to continue when he clashes with Yan in a five-round bout on Saturday at Galaxy Arena in Macau (ESPN+).
“I’m feeling 100 percent, I’m feeling 200 percent,” Figueiredo said at UFC Fight Night 248 media day. “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.
“I spent a lot of time in the lower weight division but decided to move up. 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 feel stronger and as you can see, I’ve been winning all my fights.”
The UFC bantamweight division is arguably the deepest weight class in the company, the title picture is only getting more crowded. Reigning champion Merab Dvalishvili is expected to defend against Umar Nurmagomedov, and Sean O’Malley is also lingering with hopes of a chance to regain the strap he lost in September.
A win for Figueiredo would put him right in the mix, and he said it’s his hope he can be the one fighting for gold in the near future.
“Saturday against Petr Yan, beating him will put me in great position to fight for the title,” Figueiredo said. “He’s a guy who is strong in the striking, and by beating him I want Merab after him.
Former bantamweight titleholder Petr Yan takes on ex-flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo in a crucial 135-pound showdown in China.
MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in-depth to break down the biggest fights in the UFC. Today, he takes a closer look at the UFC Fight Night 248 main event between [autotag]Petr Yan[/autotag] and [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag].
Supplemental info:
+ Former UFC bantamweight champion
+ ACB bantamweight title
+ Master of sports in boxing
+ 7 KO victories
+ 1 submission win
+ 3 first-round finishes
+ KO Power
+ Building pace and pressure
+ Excellent footwork
^ Shifts stances, takes angles
+ Accurate left hand
^ Jabs, hooks and crosses
+ Strong inside of the clinch
^ Defense, trips, strikes off the breaks
+ Solid wrestling ability
^ Scrambles well
Supplemental info:
+ Former 2x UFC flyweight champion
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ Regional grappling accolades
+ 9 KO victories
+ 9 submission wins
+ 11 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Well-timed right hands/uppercuts
^ Coming forward or off the counter
+ Hard calf kicks
+ Slicing elbows from multiple ranges
+ Strong inside the clinch
+ Improved wrestling ability
^ Solid reactive shots
+ Transitions well from topside
^ Dangerous strikes and submissions
Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo point of interest: The perfect styles fight
Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
The main event in Macau features a fight that I’ve been begging for for roughly half a decade now.
Even with [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] still being a flyweight contender back in 2019, I couldn’t help but see the Brazilian as the perfect dance partner for the stylings of [autotag]Petr Yan[/autotag].
A ferocious competitor, Yan implements an offense-heavy approach that is both analyst and fan-friendly given how aggressively he works his opposition toward the fence. Whether Yan is operating from orthodox or southpaw, the 31-year-old phenom often conducts traffic with his left hand, wielding a bevy of accurate weapons from that side.
From straight shots down the center that range from jabs to crosses to sneaky hooks and uppercuts off the lead side, Yan can pretty much do it all from boxing range. The Tiger Muay Thai product will also mix in other things like kicks, knees and elbows into his repertoire – though he seems to smartly save that shot selection for his assaults off of the breaks.
Yan does a deceptively good job on the defensive end, subtly rolling with oncoming shots while keeping his eyes on his opponent with returns in mind. That said, shifting aggression – no matter who is at the steering wheel – tends to be a ripe recipe in regard to opportunistic counters.
Enter Figueiredo.
Appearing to be a pressure-fighting wildman on the Brazilian regional scene, Figueiredo has seemingly sharpened his style and approach since touching down in the UFC octagon. Figueiredo still relies heavily upon his head and trunk movement but will now add a long-framing defense from both stances, as well as flick out more jabs and straight shots to help establish his range.
This approach both accentuates Figueiredo’s length, as well as entices risky entries from his opposition that open them up for the Brazilian’s powerful counters. Whether Figueiredo is unloading counter crosses or uppercuts, the former flyweight champ has traditionally demonstrated stellar timing and anticipation to go along with his John Lineker-like power and knockdown rate.
Figueiredo has also leaned more on his calf kicks since his series with Brandon Moreno, demonstrating the ability to land stance-altering shots at range. Although attacking Yan’s lower extremities will likely serve Figueiredo well, defensive susceptibility to calf kicks appears to be yet another potent two-way street in this matchup.
Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo breakdown: Protect your neck
Apr 13, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Deiveson Figueiredo (red gloves) fights Cody Garbrandt (blue gloves) during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Considering that Figueiredo has arguably leaned heavier on his grappling skills since moving up to bantamweight, necks could be on notice in Macau.
Luckily for Yan, the Russian fighter is far from a slouch in closed quarters.
Akin to fighters like Merab Dvalishvili, Yan’s grappling game also incorporates a lot of sambo and judo influence regarding both his wrestling and submission sensibilities. Whether Yan’s hitting disruptive foot sweeps or attacking submissions off transitions, he seldom seems to be lost, offering up answers that involve subtle but smart wrist controls in the process.
Despite being bested by Dvalishvili and his teammate Aljamain Sterling, Yan has also shown tools to help shut down similarly styled grapplers in the past who shared the offensive threats of Figueiredo.
In his first fight against Magomed Magomedov, for example, Yan had to constantly shake a sambo champion off of his back due to his propensity to tripod to his base in scrambles.
In their rematch, however, Yan was able to make some key adjustments that involved a stronger emphasis on attaching whizzers as momentum stoppers – which is a smart adjustment for a fighter who has quick hip triggers and can shift backward when he needs to.
Since Yan’s battles with Magomedov, the former UFC champion still inherently tripods in scrambling scenarios but is smart about swimming his arms and re-wrestling from said positions.
Nevertheless, despite Yan’s knack for turning defense into offense, he will still be playing with fire anytime he allows for back exposure against a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt like Figueiredo. And when it comes to offensive grappling, Yan will also still need to mind giving his head on level-changing shots given Figueiredo’s proven guillotine threats.
Even though Figueiredo is arguably known more for his striking threats on the feet, the former flyweight – who earned multiple grappling accolades during his time spent under Marajo Brothers Team – translates his power just fine in the grappling department.
More of a positional-based player who carries deceptive transitional savvy, Figueiredo likes to apply himself both in the clinch and from topside, seemingly taking great pleasure in making his opposition feel his weight and strength.
We saw a beautiful example of this in Figueiredo’s first meeting with Joseph Benavidez, as the Brazilian defended takedowns nicely both in the open and from the clinch. Doing a great job of breaking grips and framing off hips, Figueiredo not-so-subtly used his head to re-steer Benavidez towards the fence, taking the outside position.
However, if Figueiredo unsuccessfully sells out on guillotines (like he did against Jared Brooks) or ends up on his back, then he’ll still likely need to demonstrate some healthy urgency to get back to a positive position considering the hellacious ground striking that Yan possesses.
Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo odds
Petr Yan
The oddsmakers and the public are heavily favoring the younger fighter, listing Yan -310 and Figueiredo +230 via FanDuel.
Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo prediction
Despite wanting to point to the gambling space’s propensity to fade lighter-weight fighters north of 35 years old, I can’t say that I disagree with the spread listed above.
Figueiredo has arguably matured into a smarter and more effective counter fighter, but it feels like his staying power – both in the durability and stamina department – really took a hit from his brutal series with Brandon Moreno.
Figueiredo’s punching power looks to have followed him just fine to this weight class, while his counter takedowns help combat opposition who come in hot (which also provides some pacing insurance to help cover a suspect gas tank). And though I could easily see Figueiredo putting Yan and his supporters through some early scares in both of said phases, I believe that the gap between their builder vs. opportunist dynamic has only widened at this point of their careers.
Say what you will about Yan’s propensity to give away early rounds and recent losing streak – – the Russian only gets stronger with his reads and output as the fight goes on. Whereas Figueiredo, even in winning efforts, has looked like he’s walking a fine line as far as holding it together/getting his winning conditions go.
I’m just hoping that this fight – one I’ve been asking for since roughly early 2019 – delivers as much as I’ve dreamt of from a stylistic perspective. But at this point in Figueiredo’s career, it’s hard not to side with Yan to steadily take the steering wheel from an initiative and pacing standpoint.
Late stoppages are certainly on the table for “No Mercy,” but the official pick is Yan by unanimous decision.
Prediction: Yan by decision
Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo start time, where to watch
As the main event, Magny and Prates are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 8:30 a.m. ET. The fight streams live on ESPN+.
