Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. In the famed LL Cool J song, he explains that his mama
said to knock his opponent out, and Deiveson
Figueiredo has taken that to heart. On Wednesday, the
news broke that Figueiredo (20-2-1) would be meeting Brandon
Moreno (19-5-2) for the third time for a championship trilogy.
The flyweight battle is set to take place at UFC
269 on Dec. 11 at an undetermined location. Shortly after the
initial announcement and subsequent confirmation by manager
Wallid
Ismail, former Ultimate Fighting Championship champ Figueiredo
wanted to weigh in on this upcoming matchup, and he spoke Sherdog
about the booking.
“To tell you the truth, I was already training to face Alex Perez
again,” the former champ admitted. “I don’t know exactly what
happened, but I have to thank [UFC Executive Vice President Hunter
Campbell] and my manager Wallid for never giving up, [and]
insisting with the trilogy. That’s what I was dreaming about, and
also what should be done.”
Figueiredo had trained at Team Alpha Male for his last few camps,
but the partnership was no longer possible once former bantamweight
king Cody
Garbrandt announced his move to 125 pounds. The Brazilian
revealed multiple changes to his camp, including that he is
relocating down to Belem in Brazil for most of it.
“First, I put someone I trust to run my gym next months, because I
want to be focused 100% in my [training],” Figueiredo explained.
“Second, I’m bringing more sparring partners. The most important is
that I’m eager to bring back the best Deiveson ever for that
trilogy. The last two weeks, I’ll finish in Las Vegas, doing an
adaptation to the climate with my friend Michel
Pereira.”
After analyzing the fight many times, Figueiredo acknowledges that
Moreno’s strongest asset may be his jab.
“We are already working out a strategy to neutralize [the jab], but
most important is to be aggressive like I was in my first fight,”
the Brazilian ex-champ discussed. “Every time Moreno faces
aggressive opponents that attack before him, like I did in our
first fight, and [Alexandre] Pantoja did twice against him, he has
problems. Be sure I’ll bring a lot of problems to him in that third
fight.”
Weighing around 155 at the moment, Figueiredo has started his diet
to reach 125-pound limit on Dec. 11. His original plan was to start
the process of moving back to bantamweight, but pursuit of his
flyweight belt put that on hold. He does have designs for the
135-pound category in the future, and he already has a dream
matchup in mind: T.J.
Dillashaw.
“Our style is pretty much the same. If one day [the] UFC put me
against Dillashaw, it [would] be a war.”
On Wednesday, the
news also came out that two-time opponent Joseph
Benavidez had retired. Figueiredo wanted to speak on that, and
firmly believed that the 37-year-old should reconsider his
decision.
“When I started, he was already one of the greats of the division,”
Figueiredo said. “If we didn’t have fighters like Benavidez and
[Henry] Cejudo, flyweight could be over. I have a lot of respect
for him, and I believe he is still one of the top guys out there.
Fighting is about motivation, of course I respect his decision, but
I hope he reconsiders and one day gives me the honor to train with
him.”
Figueiredo finished the interview by sending a clear message to his
opponent.
“Brandon, you know this was the fight to be done, brother,” the
former champ stated. “Train hard, because I will train harder than
ever, all days of my life [will be] thinking about you. Be sure I’m
going to knock you out. You are not going to face someone out of
rhythm that [stood straight] in front of you, like I did last time.
You will face the real ‘God of War.’ What I want most in life is to
take your head off. Get ready, because all UFC fans want to see
that fight and I’m going to knock you out.”
