Published 10 days ago
The double Brazilian champion reignites his flyweight title dream despite the weight-cut challenges
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Deiveson Figueiredo, the UFC’s double flyweight champion, is considering a surprise return to his original weight class. After a disappointing stint at bantamweight, the 36-year-old Brazilian could drop back down to 57 kg to face Joshua Van, the division’s new king. A decision driven by his analysis of the Pantoja-Van fight and a new training strategy.
To remember:
- Deiveson Figueiredo is considering a return to flyweight after his mixed stint at bantamweight.
- He is targeting Joshua Van, the new division champion, after analyzing his win over Alexandre Pantoja.
- Figueiredo criticizes Pantoja’s strategy, favoring grappling over stand-up exchanges.
- The Brazilian claims he can reach 57 kg without difficulty thanks to a new nutritional plan.
- He is banking on a rematch to reclaim the UFC flyweight title.
Incredible but true! Deiveson Figueiredo, the UFC’s double flyweight champion, is considering a surprise return to his original weight class. After a mixed stint at bantamweight, where he struggled to make an impact, the 36-year-old Brazilian isn’t ruling out dropping back down to 57 kg to challenge Joshua Van, the division’s new king. A decision driven by Van’s convincing performance against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301.
His analysis of the Pantoja-Van fight reveals a failed strategy. According to Figueiredo, Pantoja should have focused on grappling against a technical opponent, rather than engaging in stand-up exchanges. A tactical mistake that sealed the fight’s outcome and reignited his own title ambitions. “Van showed great fight IQ, but Pantoja made a mistake by not controlling the pace on the ground,” he stated in a recent interview.
A Weight-Cut Challenge to Overcome
The weight-cut remains a major hurdle, however. Figueiredo, who has always struggled to hit the 57 kg limit, claims he can do it without issue this time. He attributes his past difficulties to fatigue rather than physical inability and is now banking on a new nutritionist to optimize his preparation. “I feel lighter, more energetic. My body is responding better this time,” he admits.
With this new approach, Figueiredo hopes not only to make weight but also to reclaim his dominance in the division. A rematch against Van could well earn him a third flyweight belt, a rare feat in UFC history.
If Figueiredo manages to overcome the weight-cut challenge and impose his strategy, he could well write a new chapter in his legendary MMA career. Now we’ll have to see if Joshua Van is ready to defend his title against this determined challenger.