Wallid
Ismail was initially diplomatic after Deiveson
Figueiredo parted ways with the longtime manager
to be represented by Vayner Sports, but now he is no longer
biting his tongue.
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Ismail initially released a brief statement to Sherdog.com wishing
Figueiredo “good luck on his career” after the change in
representation. However, the manager took exception to an interview
in which the flyweight champion told
AgFight that Ismail didn’t tell the UFC about his hand injury,
nor was he immediately informed about the promotion’s decision to
create an interim belt in his absence. That prompted an angry
Ismail to break his silence on social media.
“From the beginning I didn’t want to speak out so as not to expose
Deiveson,” Ismail said. “I had informed Deiveson that the UFC would
[create] the interim belt if he couldn’t fight until July. The UFC
was aware that he was injured. I have conversations with
matchmakers informing [them] about the injury. He made a statement
in the press saying that he would only like to fight Kai Kara
France in October, although I asked him to fight Brandon
Moreno again, as this would be the best fight for his
career.
“He wants to look for someone to blame for his wrong decisions, I’m
just speaking out because, although he apologized to me for lying
that he didn’t know about the interim belt, now he’s back to lying,
that I hadn’t warned the UFC about his injury. That’s a lack of
character.”
Ismail didn’t mince words regarding his feelings toward
Figueiredo.
“This vagabond has become a shameless bastard,” he added. “First he
lied saying that I hadn’t warned him about the interim belt (the
bastard told me he didn’t care). The bastard apologized to me for
lying, now he’s telling another lie. You’re very naughty, Deiveson.
I told the UFC that he was injured and could only fight in October.
This bastard asked me to say that.
Kara France and Moreno will meet for the interim flyweight title at
UFC 277 on July 30. Figueiredo is expected to face the winner after
briefly teasing a move to bantamweight, but a timetable for the
champion’s return is currently unclear.