[autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] thinks a matchup with [autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] could be in his future if he successfully defends his flyweight title in the UFC 256 main event.
Figueiredo (20-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) is set to put his title on the line for the second time in 21 days when he meets Brandon Moreno (18-5-1 MMA, 6-2-1 UFC) in Saturday’s headliner, which takes place at UFC Apex in Las Vegas and airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.
After submitting Alex Perez in the first round at UFC 255 on Nov. 21, Figueiredo agreed to get right back in the octagon for the clash with Moreno. The former titleholder, Cejudo (16-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC), has poked fun at the sidelines, saying Figueiredo is merely “babysitting” the strap for him.
That irked Figueiredo, who issued a response.
“Cejudo’s a masked clown,” Figueiredo told reporters, including MMA Junkie, through an interpreter during UFC 256 virtual media day on Thursday. “I can’t wait for him to step in front of me so I can knock that mask off his face.”
While it remains to be seen if a clash with Cejudo is in his future, the present is all about his encounter with Moreno, and trying to make history in the process.
Figueiredo stayed in Las Vegas after his win over Perez, and said he’s maintained his focus and discipline in the short stretch between fights. He said he currently weighs about 132 pounds, and has used his time to come up with a “very strategic” game plan for Moreno.
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It hasn’t been difficult at all for Figueiredo find motivation for this fight, he said, especially because Moreno has added fuel to the fire.
“Brandon’s a guy that asked to fight me since the (Joseph) Benavidez fight,” Figueiredo said. “That’s something that irritated and bothered me a little bit, so if he’s asking to fight me then we’ll get in the octagon and he can fight with me.”
The current record for fastest turnaround between successful UFC title defenses currently stands at 56 days, and is shared by Matt Hughes and Ronda Rousey. There’s a chance for Figueiredo to blow that mark out of the water.
If Figueiredo does pull off the victory, he would have a significant case for the 2020 “Fighter of the Year,” having finished Benavidez twice before kicking off his title reign in legendary fashion.
It’s a moment in time that makes Figueiredo grateful, he said, but that doesn’t mean he’s not going to stop pushing to expand his legacy.
“To win again and take two belts home to Brazil and relax with my family – thinking about that makes me feel very proud of myself,” Figueiredo said. “I want to really dominate my division, I want to make history. But I’m fully open to having a super fight at 135, and I hope this happens soon.”
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