Alexandre Pantoja, Deiveson Figueiredo Express Interest in Potential Rematch

Alexandre
Pantoja and Deiveson
Figueiredo are teasing an
Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight rematch.

Pantoja (29-5) has defended his flyweight strap thrice since
winning it against Brandon
Moreno at UFC 290 last year. “The Cannibal” most recently
choked out two-time
Rizin Fighting Federation champ Kai Asakura
who received an immediate shot at UFC 310 earlier this month after
signing with the UFC. This is mostly due to a lack of flyweight
challenges for Pantoja, apart from running it back with Moreno or
Royval.

However, a new contender has seemingly entered the fray who has
already handed Pantoja one of his few career losses. Former champ
Figueiredo (24-4) is willing to move back down from bantamweight to
challenge Pantoja for the flyweight title.

“Since [Pantoja] is looking for someone, I think I’m the best
option,” Figueiredo recently told Brazilian MMA journalist Laerte
Viana (Translated by Championship Rounds.) “I’m available man. In
my entire career in the UFC, I only missed weight once… If I have
to make weight, I’ll go there and fulfil my commitment… And our
first fight wasn’t easy for [Pantoja]. It was a three-round fight
and I certainly won all three.”

Pantoja suffered a “Fight of the Night” unanimous decision loss
against Figueiredo in their first encounter at UFC 240 back in
2019. While “The Cannibal” would love to avenge that loss, he is
worried about Figueiredo making the flyweight limit after having
adapted to 135.

“That’s one of the fights I want to be in,” Pantoja told Ariel
Helwani. “Because of course he beat me one time. And I know 100% I
can beat him. But it’s going to be like a danger for UFC with him
to make weight right now. Maybe danger for Figueiredo to try to do
that right now. Because his body just changed.”

Figueiredo moved up to bantamweight after going 1-2-1 in a
flyweight title quartet with Moreno. “Daico” beat seasoned
bantamweights Rob Font,
Cody
Garbrandt and Marlon Vera
before dropping a unanimous decision against former champ Petr Yan last
month.