Francisco Figueiredo wants to climb the flyweight rankings “step by step” and eventually reach the top, and doesn’t think his older brother — the UFC’s 125-pound champion — Deiveson Figueiredo should be there much longer.
Both Figueiredo brothers compete in the same division, with the champion expected to unify titles against interim title holder Brandon Moreno and Francisco facing Amir Albazi at Saturday night’s UFC 278. His brother “Sniper” should consider moving to bantamweight in order to chase another belt.
” My brother, if he is really focused on training, I don’t see Brandon Moreno defeating him,” Figueiredo stated this week in MMA Fighting’s Trocacao Franka .. He said that he doesn’t have anything left at 125.. I also told him this already. I think he should move up to 135 and fight for that belt. I told him to challenge the 135-pound champion, and I’m sure he wins. It’s time for him to change history. He must go to 135, and then leave [for me]. HTML3_. Let me fight the flyweights.”
Figueiredo is confident that his brother would be as successful at bantamweight, finishing reigning champion Aljamain Sterling anywhere. Sterling last defended his throne against Petr Yan, and is slated to face T.J. Dillashaw next in Abu Dhabi.
” I’m certain he submits, knocks out champion,” Figueiredo stated. “His hands are way heavier than that guy’s. [Sterling] isn’t very punchy. He has good jiu-jitsu, but [Figueiredo’s] jiu-jitsu is way better than his.”
In the meantime, “Sniper” looks to keep the momentum going after tapping Daniel da Silva in just 78 seconds this past April, bouncing back from a decision defeat to Malcolm Gordon. Albazi, on the other hand, is 2-0 in the UFC with wins over Gordon and Zhalgas Zhumagulov, but hasn’t entered the octagon in 19 months.
“I’m in a great moment, well-trained, and ready to go there and put on a show,” Figueiredo said. “I think Daniel is much more dangerous than this guy I’m about to fight. Daniel is a great fighter in jiu jitsu and he has amazing kicks. [Albazi] has good takedowns and some good submissions too, good boxing, but Daniel was more dangerous than him because he had kicks and was unpredictable.”
Figueiredo got the job done in just over a minute in Las Vegas against da Silva, but won’t expect another quick night at the office this weekend in Salt Lake City.
“You can’t guarantee that, but I’m well-trained,” Figueiredo said. This time, I focused more on my Jiu-jitsu. I give Amir two rounds. He’ll attempt to get up and take me down within two rounds. I will catch him in the second round.
