Former UFC champion Deiveson Figueiredo feels ‘200 percent’ for UFC Macau, wants title shot with win over ‘great dude’ Petr Yan

Dan Hiergesell is an expert voice who serves as MMAmania.com's weekend editor, covering mixed martial arts (MMA) for more than 15 years, getting featured on programs such as Countdown to UFC and SiriusXM Fight Club, among others.

Former UFC flyweight king Deiveson Figueiredo could not be feeling any better heading into his main event clash with Petr Yan tomorrow morning (Sat., Nov. 23, 2024) at UFC Macau LIVE on ESPN+ from inside Galaxy Arena in Macau, China, as the Brazilian fighter tries to inch his way closer to a UFC bantamweight title shot.

Figueiredo’s sample size at 135 pounds has been relatively small, but the early results have been more than impressive. The former flyweight king moved up to bantamweight late last year and debuted with a dominant decision win over Rob Font. Figueiredo followed that up with a submission win over Cody Garbrandt at UFC 300 this past April and then a decision win over former title challenger Marlon Vera back in August.

Ahead of Saturday’s main event tilt with Yan, Figueiredo is feeling refreshed and ready to further his climb up the bantamweight ladder.

“I’m feeling 100 percent, I’m feeling 200 percent,” Figueiredo told reporters during UFC Macau’s media day (via MMA Junkie). “About to take on a great name, great dude. But he’s about to take on a big, great name as well. You can be sure I have a great strategy to finish him this Saturday.

“I spent a lot of time in the lower weight division but decided to move up. I did have a lot of success there, but I decided to move up and I found myself in this division. I feel great. My mind and my body are healthy. I think feel stronger and as you can see, I’ve been winning all my fights.”

Figueiredo, who turns 37 next month, doesn’t have a lot of time left to make a move for his second UFC championship. That’s why he’s hoping a win over Yan at UFC Macau and a 4-0 UFC bantamweight record will be enough to score a title shot against current division champion, Merab Dvalishvili.

“Saturday against Petr Yan, beating him will put me in great position to fight for the title,” Figueiredo said. “He’s a guy who is strong in the striking, and by beating him I want Merab after him.”

LIVE! Stream UFC Macau On ESPN+

WELTERWEIGHT WARTIME! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to its APEX venue in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sat., Nov. 9, 2024, with an important Welterweight main event between battle-tested veteran and No. 15-ranked contender Neil Magny as he takes on fast-rising “Contender Series” phenom Carlos Prates. In addition, former Bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt returns to face off against red-hot Miles Johns in UFC Vegas 100’s hard-hitting co-headliner.

Don’t miss a single second of face-punching action!

• STREAM NOW

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Macau fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the ESPN+ preliminary card matchups which are scheduled to begin at 3 a.m. ET, followed by the remaining main card balance on ESPN+ at 6 a.m. ET.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC Macau news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive here. For the updated and finalized “Yan vs. Figueiredo” fight card and ESPN+ lineup click here.