Deiveson Figueiredo is eyeing Joshua Van and potentially a third reign as UFC flyweight champion.
It’s been almost four years since Figueiredo last competed at 125 pounds, the division where he twice held UFC gold. This Saturday, he continues his bantamweight journey as he takes on top prospect Payton Talbott on the main card of UFC 332 in Salt Lake City.
At media day Wednesday, Figueiredo entertained the suggestion of returning to flyweight and testing Van’s mettle.
“I’ve been asking the UFC and telling them I will make that weight very easy,” Figueiredo told MMA Fighting’s José Youngs via a Portuguese-to-English translator. “I’ve been asking them to just make the fight, I want that opportunity, and let’s see if his boxing is as good as mine.”
Van is rapidly becoming one of the MMA’s most popular champions, having gone 11-1 in the octagon, including a Fight of the Year-candidate flyweight title defense against Pantoja at UFC 331. He also holds successfully defended his belt against Tatsuro Taira and holds a win over longtime contender Brandon Royval. Excluding his first fight against Pantoja that ended in 26 seconds due to Pantoja suffering a freak arm injury, Van has won three straight Fight of the Night bonuses.
Figueiredo, a dangerous finisher during his flyweight days, is confident he can beat Van at his own game.
“Two hundred percent,” Figueiredo said of his willingness to drop back down to 125 pounds. “It needs to happen. The UFC gives me an opportunity, I go out there and knock him out.”
At the moment, Figueiredo has more immediate concerns as he looks to snap a two-fight skid against the heavily favored Talbott. Still, if he pulls off the upset and the UFC is willing to give him a chance, he looks forward to going toe-to-toe with Van.
“Everybody wants to exchange with him and he’s a striker,” Figueiredo said. “I’m a striker and a grappler, so believe me, if he wants to strike with me, the effect won’t be the same and he will not want to exchange with me. Pantoja’s an amazing fighter, but I think the game plan was wrong because he was just trying to push the striking in this fight. Why not use more grappling in this fight with the excellent jiu-jitsu he’s got?”
