Deiveson Figueiredo is assured that he needs to be first in line in opposition to newly topped UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili.
The previous UFC flyweight kingpin has gone 3-0 thus far at 135-pound with wins over Rob Font, Cody Garbrandt and Marlon Vera, and was at The Sphere this previous Saturday to look at Dvalishvili dethrone Sean O’Malley in the primary occasion of UFC 306 and point out his title on the post-fight press convention.
“I used to be watching the combat and in the long run he checked out me, I used to be 10 meters away from him, and he began pointing at me,” Figueiredo mentioned in an interview with MMA Combating. “I used to be rooting for him as a result of now we are able to make this combat occur. I believed he would name me out within the cage however he talked about my title in interviews, and I’m right here, man.”
Dvalishvili mentioned the Brazilian “deserves it extra” than top-contender Umar Nurmagomedov, who’s 6-0 thus far within the UFC and just lately beat Cory Sandhagen by way of resolution.
“Umar speaking about [a title shot], some bullshit there,” Dvalishvili said on Saturday. “[Before he fought Sandhagen] he defeated any individual [in their] debut after which now he desires to combat for the belt? You might be out of your thoughts.
“Figueiredo deserves it extra. He’s a former champion, he’s an enormous title. He’s been preventing. He already beat one former champion and two guys from the highest 15. Really, [Marlon] ‘Chito’ Vera doesn’t depend as a result of ‘Chito’ Vera will not be a top-15 fighter. He sucks. However Figueiredo deserves it extra. He has my respect. He’s a person and he’s been respectful and he’s cool and he didn’t get right here as a result of he’s any individual’s cousin. He obtained right here by himself. He’s a very good fighter. He’s been there. He was a champion. At the very least he’s humble and he’s an actual fighter.”
Figueiredo agrees with the champion, including that Nurmagomedov remains to be untested in opposition to the elite of the division. Nurmagomedov’s greatest wins apart from Sandhagen have been Raoni Barcelos and Brian Kelleher, each by way of first-round end.
“Umar simply obtained right here,” Figueiredo mentioned. “He simply had his first combat in opposition to a troublesome man and I’m positive he has to get examined extra, to combat another person first — perhaps [O’Malley]. I’m already examined. I left a division the place I used to be champion and moved up and fought robust guys. I had no simple fights. I positively current extra hazard to Merab. I’m able to combat him.
“Individuals have been calling me out since I obtained to this division. Perhaps they assume I’m a simple combat, however I present them in any other case within the octagon. I’m prepared, man. I’m able to combat for the belt. I wish to win that belt.”
Figueiredo mentioned he could be prepared to face Dvalishvili at UFC 310 on Dec. 7, if the champion is wholesome for a comparatively brief turnaround. Dvalishvili competed in seven rounds this yr, going 2-0 in opposition to Henry Cejudo and O’Malley. The Brazilian veteran mentioned he’ll concentrate on grappling coaching to “confuse” Dvalishvili and turn out to be a two-division champion.
“It’s onerous for Merab to vary his type,” Figueiredo mentioned. “His type is annoying, he trades a little bit bit after which takes you down fairly quick. You must be actually sensible if you combat somebody like Merab to place him at risk, too, and I’m that man. I’ve good jiu-jitsu, I’ve been working so much on my grappling, and I’ll focus much more on my wrestling now that I’m aiming for this combat.”
“I’ve been evolving so much in my grappling each since I moved up in weight,” he continued. “I left a division the place I used to be extra of a striker and brawled everyone, and now I see individuals doing extra grappling on this division, so I went again a bit and re-activated my information in grappling.”
