Deiveson Figueiredo will save flyweight with KOs and taps: ‘I have arrived’

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Deiveson Figueiredo says he will assure a long and healthy future for the UFC flyweight division by decimating opponents.

There has long been a vocal minority of MMA fans who argue that flyweight fights just aren’t exciting enough — enter Deiveson Figueiredo.

There was a time where the future of flyweight seemed finite, but all that changed when Henry Cejudo vacated the title. Figueiredo and Benavidez were immediately installed in a world title fight to crown a new champion at 125. Figueiredo (17-1) spoke exclusively with MMA Mania ahead of his headlining fight with Joseph Benavidez (28-5) at UFC Norfolk on Saturday, Feb. 29.

“The flyweight division is not going to go anywhere. It’s not going to finish. I have arrived to make this statement. I have arrived to make this division exciting. I’m going to submit these guys, I’m going to knockout these guys. I am coming to make the statement that this is a great division. It cannot end,” Figueiredo assured. “I am going to be the best example for UFC in the world and not just America. I’m going to fight all my fights to submit or knock people out.

Benavidez recently told MMA Fighting he is no longer consumed by the UFC title. The same cannot be said for Figueiredo, who missed weight for the title fight shortly after this interview.

“Joseph Benavidez is not obsessed with the belt. I don’t care, I am very obsessed with the belt. I want this belt,” he asserted. “I’m going to get this belt for my family, for my country and for people all over the world who are hungry to have a better life. I want this belt. It’s going to be my belt. Benavidez knows he is going to lose. He knows inside he is going to lose.”

Benavidez will be the only fighter eligible to win the UFC flyweight title now that Figueiredo has missed weight. Other notable fighters on the UFC Norfolk card include Felicia Spencer, Luis Pena, Megan Anderson and Tom Breese.

Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Fight Night 169 fight card this weekend RIGHT HERE, starting with the ESPN+“Prelims” that are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. ET, then the main card portion that will also stream on ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET.

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