UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo is on the shelf with a hand injury, but he might be contemplating a move north.
Figueiredo (21-2-1 MMA, 10-2-1 UFC) lost the flyweight title to Brandon Moreno in June 21. But he bounced back in January in a trilogy rematch and took the belt back with a unanimous decision at UFC 270.
After the Fight of the Night winner, which was his third straight fight against Moreno after the loss and a previous majority draw, he announced his injury two months ago and said he’d likely be on the bench till the end of 2022.
In response, the UFC put together an interim title fight between Moreno (19-5-2 MMA, 7-2-2 UFC) and Kai Kara-France (24-9 MMA, 7-2 UFC) earlier this month. They’ll meet in a rematch for the interim title at UFC 277 on July 30. Moreno won their first fight by unanimous decision.
But Figueiredo is none too happy the UFC wasn’t willing to wait for him to return to defend his belt.
“I was upset because I didn’t expect that from the UFC,” Figueiredo told Brazilian news outlet AG Fight (via Google Translate). “A few months ago, I had the last fight and the UFC already has an interim belt? I’m in disbelief. … I’ve always provided great shows for the UFC and I feel undervalued because of this interim belt. I’ll even use a phrase from Charles (Oliveira): ‘The champion has a name, and his name is Deiveson Figueiredo.’ This plastic belt is meaningless.”
Figueiredo said he plans to be at UFC 277 in Dallas to watch the interim title fight, since he’ll be expected to face the winner when he returns.
But his trip there may be for more than that. He’s also considering leaving the flyweight division to go to bantamweight.
“I am very disappointed,” he told the site. “I confess I seriously am thinking about leaving the division. Henry Cejudo and I saved this division, and after this move by the UFC, I’m honestly about to make decisions. I hope I don’t take them, but if I do, I’ll leave the division and go up to bantamweight.
“Always before making decisions, I like to reflect so as not to make mistakes. Let that interim belt roll; I’ll be there. The champion is called Deiveson. I’ll be there to see this little facade. I still have a lot to talk about, if possible in person with Dana White. I want to talk to them in the United States. I will also meet with Henry Cejudo and Eric Albarracin to see what to do.”
Figueiredo won the flyweight title with a second-round TKO of Joseph Benavidez in February 2020. The two fought in a rematch later that year, and Figueiredo choked Benavidez unconscious to defend the title. In late 2020, he submitted Alex Perez for another defense of the belt.
Just three weeks later, he fought Moreno for the first time and left UFC 256 with a majority draw; he kept the title. Six months later, Moreno submitted him to win the belt, but Figueiredo took it back in their trilogy bout.