Former UFC Flightweight Champion DEIVESON Figueiredo's climb came to a title at the expense of a legend.
DEIVESON FIGUEIDEDO is a dangerous for every UFC Bantam weight and flight weight after a stars-lined run in the promotion. After a multiple title in the UFC Flyweight Division, the switch from Figueiredo to Bantam weight has resulted in recent victories over Marlon Vera, Cody Garbrandt and Rob Font.
Figueiredo returns this Saturday at the UFC des Moines Main Event against Cory Sandhagen in a matchup between two of the most dangerous Bantam weights. The winner will go a step closer to a potential title shot before the Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O'Malley Rematch.
After Demetrious Johnson's UFC departure left the flight weight department in Flux, Figueiredo was one of the many top names to revive the smallest weight class of the promotion. But his climb to the UFC Flyweight Champion was anything but normal.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty images
Joseph Benavidez shelled a blood -curdling scream after waking up the entry
After Figueiredo lost to Jussier Formiga in March 2019, many wondered whether or not the talented Brazilian had what was needed to hoist a UFC championship belt. But after victories over the former Ultimate Fighter winner Tim Elliott and the current reigning champion Alexandre Pantoja, Figueiredo fought Figueiredo for the then vacant flight weight belt less than a year after the Formiga defeat.
The first chance of Figueiredo on UFC Championship Glory was not fell to the goal despite a victory in the Octagon. In anticipation of his first title fight against Joseph Benavidez in February 2020, Figueiredo missed the flight weight limit with 2.5 pounds before he earned a second round knockout over Benavidez.
A rematch between Figueiredo and Benavidez was booked only a few months later for the still vacant flight weight championship. This time there was no controversy.
Figueiredo submitted Benavidez with a coded choke with seconds in the first round in July 2020 and earned the Brazilian the flight weight championship. But seconds after choking Benavidez asleep, Benavidez's return ended to consciousness in a disturbing, viral moment in the cage.
As you can look below, Benavidez shouted a blood -curdling scream while he recovered consciousness in the cage.
🔊 sound on. Joseph Benavidez is shouted awake after he has been choked by FigueIredo😳 pic.twitter.com/ye61ky9duc
– Home of Fight (@home_of_fight) November 30, 2023
DEIVESON FIGUEIRDODO TRIDENTED BY UFC des MOINES RIDAL WITH AI JABS
The entry of Figueiredo by Benavidez led to victories on people like Alex Perez and Brandon Moreno, before he lost twice to Moreno in their tetralogy. He made the full -time transition to Bantamweight after he fell to Moreno at UFC 283 in what his last flying weight was defending defense.
Figueiredo wants to return to the profit column after UFC des Moines after a loss for Petr Yan at UFC Macau in November. In anticipation of UFC des Moines, Sandhagen did not pull bumps by cramming its upcoming rival.
Sandhagen went to unorthodox lengths to tease FigueIredo for their collision on Saturday. In a recent YouTube vlog, Sandhagen received the help of the AI ​​model Chatgpt to toast Figueiredo.
Figueiredo has the chance to get the last smile when he meets Sandhagen this weekend in the Octagon. Despite the high mileage, FigueIredo still believes that he can compete for UFC belts and the Bantam weight division.