Deiveson
Figueiredo is parting ways with longtime manager Wallid Ismael
and will now be represented by Vayner Sports, a firm notably headed
by Urijah Faber
and Lloyd Pierson.
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Sherdog.com confirmed the news following an initial report from
Combate. According to the flyweight champion, his disagreement
with his former manager did not happen because of the UFC’s
decision to make an interim belt.
“Our disagreement was based on numbers,” Figueiredo told
Sherdog.com. “When I was champion and fought [Brandon] Moreno at
UFC 263, my purse was $200,000 to show plus $100,000 to win plus
pay-per-view points. In the third fight [at UFC 270], when I
regained my belt, it was $100,000 (to show) plus $100,000 (to win)
— that’s not a champion´s purse. I called Wallid and apologized to
him for some bad stuff I said to the press when I was angry, but we
parted ways.”
Figueiredo revealed that he has alrady signed a contract to be
represented by Vayner Sports.
“Urijah
Faber is a long-time friend, who already fought for the company
and I´m sure we will have a great partnership together,” he
said.
The UFC flyweight champion also talked about his decision to
train with the Chute Boxe team.
“The atmosphere here is excellent. They have really tough
lightweight sparring partners to train with me.
Unfortunately I’m still not able to spar due to my hand
injury,” he said. “But I´m receiving excellent treatment in Sao
Paulo and it´s improving fast. In two or three weeks I hope to be
sparring with Charles [Oliveira] and all the tough guys of the
team.”
Even though he is aware that Chute Boxe leader Diego Lima
doesn’t like the “camp system,” Figueiredo revealed that his
partnership with Henry
Cejudo is not over.
“I would love to be training with Cejudo in the U.S., but
unfortunately my family didn’t get their visas yet. Since it’s
very difficult to stay away from my family, having the opportunity
to come to Sao Paulo and train at Chute Boxe with my son and wife
around was amazing.”
Since learning of the interim title fight between Brandon
Moreno and Kai Kara
France at UFC 277, Figueiredo began to consider the possibility
of fighting in the bantamweight division and drew the attention of
former champion Petr Yan, who
challenged him.
“Petr Yan is not the champion anymore, He has to rise up again to
fight me. When I considered going up, it was to make a champion vs.
champion superfight,” he said.
According to Figueiredo, his focus is 100% on the winner of the
interim belt.
“I´ll be there on July 30 to show the winner of the plastic belt
who is the king,” he said. “And whoever wins will have to come down
to Brazil to face the champion at home. Moreno fought me at home
twice, since Arizona and California are [heavily populated with
Mexicans] and 70% of the fans were supporting him.”
Figueiredo also picked a winner for the interim crown.
“I believe Kara France will win by KO, but no matter who is the
winner, he will have to come down to Brazil in December to face the
real champion and his noisy fanbase.”