For months, Deiveson Figueiredo insisted that his grueling days cutting down to 125 pounds were permanently behind him. The former two-time flyweight champion had repeatedly cited the severe physical strain of making the flyweight limit as the primary reason for settling into the bantamweight division. Yet during Wednesday's media day ahead of UFC 332 in Salt Lake City, the Brazilian veteran completely shifted his position. Preparing for a high-stakes co-main event against rising bantamweight prospect Payton Talbott on October 3, Figueiredo openly challenged current flyweight titleholder Joshua Van and claimed he could make 125 pounds with ease.
Figueiredo’s pivot comes at a critical juncture in his career. Approaching his 40th birthday, the former champion is aiming to break out of a two-fight losing streak following recent setbacks against Song Yadong and Umar Nurmagomedov. It has been nearly four years since Figueiredo last made the 125-pound limit—a division he abandoned after dropping his title to Brandon Moreno in 2023. However, watching Van retain his crown in a five-round battle against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331 appears to have rekindled Figueiredo's desire for a third flyweight reign.
Speaking through a Portuguese-to-English translator, Figueiredo made no attempt to hide his desire for an immediate title shot against the 24-year-old champion.
blockquote>I’ve been asking the UFC and telling them I will make that weight very easily. Just make that fight, I want that opportunity, and we’ll see if his boxing is as good as mine,
Figueiredo declared. 200 percent, it needs to happen. If the UFC gives me that opportunity, I go in there and knock him out.
Deconstructing Van's Rise and Pantoja's Misstep
Joshua Van’s rapid emergence has revitalized the 125-pound division. Amassing an 11-1 record in the Octagon, Van followed up key wins over top contender Brandon Royval and elite prospect Tatsuro Taira by defeating Pantoja via unanimous decision in a Fight of the Year contender at UFC 331. Outside of their initial 26-second encounter—which ended abruptly due to an arm injury suffered by Pantoja—Van has banked three consecutive Fight of the Night bonuses while establishing himself as one of the UFC's premier stand-up forces.
Figueiredo, however, views Van's recent success through a tactical lens, arguing that Pantoja allowed the young champion to dictate the terms of engagement at UFC 331.
blockquote>Everyone wants to exchange with him and he's a striker,
Figueiredo said. I'm a striker and a grappler, so believe me, if he wants to strike with me, the effect won't be the same and he will not want to exchange with me. Pantoja's an amazing fighter, but I think the game plan was wrong because he was just trying to push the striking in this fight. Why not use more grappling in this fight with the excellent jiu-jitsu he's got?
Division Queues and the Roadblock Named Kape
Despite Figueiredo's enthusiasm, the UFC matchmakers face a crowded divisional landscape. Leading the queue for a flyweight shot is Manel Kape, who sports a 23-7 overall record and rides a dominant four-fight winning streak, with every victory coming by way of stoppage. Kape’s recent momentum positions him as the consensus first-in-line contender to face Van next.
Furthermore, standard promotional logic presents a barrier for Figueiredo. UFC brass rarely transfers a fighter directly into a world title bout while carrying back-to-back losses. To make a return to 125 pounds a viable narrative, Figueiredo must first deliver a flawless performance against Talbott in Salt Lake City.
Evidence-Led Forecast: UFC 332 Co-Main Event Stakes
Tactical Pattern & Decisive Matchup: Before any flyweight return can be entertained, Figueiredo faces a stern physical challenge against Talbott at 135 pounds. Talbott’s rangy striking, relentless pace, and straight punching present real dangers to a veteran looking to re-establish momentum. Figueiredo's clearest route to victory rests on integrating early level changes to force Talbott onto the defensive, neutralizing his forward march and opening up heavy counter-hooks in the pocket.
Strongest Counter-Case & Tactical Shift: Should Talbott successfully deny Figueiredo’s early wrestling attempts and establish control with a long jab, Figueiredo risks being trapped on the outside against a higher-volume striker. To prevent the fight from breaking down into a long-distance kickboxing match, Figueiredo must initiate grinding clinch work against the cage to disrupt Talbott’s rhythm and drain his gas tank.
Primary Variable: Figueiredo's mental focus serves as the ultimate swing factor. Publicly advocating for a flyweight title shot while preparing for a dangerous bantamweight contender can either stem from supreme belief or represent an unhelpful distraction. A slip-up against Talbott effectively ends any immediate push for Van, making Figueiredo’s performance this Saturday the absolute prerequisite for any future title ambitions.
Sources
These sources formed the evidence pack for this article. Links open the original publisher; inclusion does not imply endorsement.
- bjpenn.com original
- sports.yahoo.com original
- mmasucka.com original
- flipboard.com original
