Deiveson Figueiredo will be sitting cageside when Brandon Moreno and Kai Kara-France collide for the interim flyweight championship Saturday in UFC 277’s co-main event.
The champ would like to be able to fight on his home turf for the title unification bout.
Figueiredo reclaimed the UFC’s 125-pound title with a decision victory over Moreno this past January but is still sidelined with a hand injury. The Brazilian wasn’t happy when the UFC created an interim belt, and is now battling to make sure his next bout is featured in UFC’s return to Brazil, which is expected for the first quarter of 2023.
“My fight is to bring this match to Brazil,” Figueiredo said on MMA Fighting’s Trocacao Franca. They’re holding a UFC fight here so I wanted to ensure they booked my fight. I will fight [at UFC 277],, whoever it is.
Figueiredo’s plans to move up to bantamweight are on hold for now, he said. With Aljamain Sterling booked to defend his throne against T.J. Dillashaw and two possible No. 1 contender bouts scheduled — Jose Aldo vs. Merab Dvalishvili and Petr Yan vs. Sean O’Malley — Figueiredo is focused instead on extending his flyweight reign.
“I admit I have the desire to go up to 135,” he said. “I don’t know when, only God knows that. [But] as long as I’m having success at 125 and have someone to challenge me, rest assured that I’ll continue defending what’s mine.”
Figueiredo added that he wants to “go up straight for the belt” when it’s time to test himself at bantamweight, and he doesn’t expect Sterling to be champion once it happens.
“I think it’s a matter of time until he loses this spot,” Figueiredo said of Sterling. There are other guys who are better than Sterling. Jose Aldo will knock him out if he comes into contact with him.
“I’ve observed [Dillashaw] a lot, he’s very strategic and smart. He will be back to win the title when he fights again for it
