ABU DHABI — Deiveson Figueiredo scored an impressive finish of Joseph Benavidez on Feb. 29, finishing a well-regarded, veteran competitor in the second round of their fight.
It should have also been his crowning moment. But there was a problem: Figueiredo (18-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) missed weight by two-and-a-half pounds the day before. That meant Benavidez could have won the vacant UFC flyweight title with a victory, but Figueiredo’s victory meant the belt stayed vacant.
He’ll have a chance to rectify this situation. Figueiredo weighs in on Friday for his rematch with Benavidez (28-6 MMA, 15-4 UFC), which will be the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 30 on Saturday night at Flash Forum in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
This time, though, Figueiredo insists all will be fine when he steps on the scale.
“I don’t think it’s going to be a problem at all,” the Brazilian competitor told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at Thursday’s virtual media day. “My weight is a lot better control than it was for last fight. I actually traveled from Belem around two kilos (about 4.4 pounds) over so, I’m very close to it. That’s about as much as I have to take out on Friday.”
The run-up to the rematch led to its own set of complications, as Figueiredo had a false positive test for COVID-19, which delayed his departure out to “Fight Island.”
But despite that — and despite the UFC holding Alexandre Pantoja as a potential reserve for the bout — Figueiredo, who had never previously missed weight in his career, said he’s not worried about what will happen when he hits the scales. In fact, he believes he might come in under the 125-pound championship limit.
“It didn’t really bother me,” Figueiredo said. “I understand what they are doing but it did motivate me even more than before to make sure that I’m on weight.
“It’s a very good chance I’m going to be a little but under this time around.”
Either way, won in a convincing manner last time. This time, Figueiredo says he’s going to make weight, and this time, he’ll leave with the gold, too.
“Yeah for sure I did win the fight, unfortunately I couldn’t get out of the octagon with the belt, but it is going to be different this time,” he said. “My weight is a lot better than before, and so making weight is not going to be a problem and the win is going to be the same.”
