Askar Askarov tells Deiveson Figueiredo to get in line, calls out Brandon Moreno

Askar Askarov is ready for his shot at gold, and he’s not about to let Deiveson Figueiredo overlap him.

Figueiredo is not the only one who has unfinished business with newly crowned UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno (19-5-2 MMA, 7-2-2 UFC). In his promotional debut, former ACB 125-pound champ Askarov battled to a split draw with Moreno and hasn’t lost since.

But with Figueiredo campaigning for a trilogy bout with Moreno, Askarov (14-0-1 MMA, 3-0-1 UFC) made sure to let the champion know he is recovered from surgery and ready to go before the end of the year.

“@Daico_Deiveson stop talking a lot, get in line. I’m next. @theassassinbaby defend your belt with a real challenger, I’ll see you in December.”

@Daico_Deiveson stop talking a lot, get in line.
I’m next.@theassassinbaby defend your belt with a real challenger, I’ll see you in December.
—@danawhite @Mickmaynard2 @ufc @AliAbdelaziz00 @Rizvan_RM pic.twitter.com/HkeTznfUH7

— Askar Askarov (@askar_mma) August 20, 2021

Askarov is coming off three straight wins over “Ultimate Fighter” winner Tim Elliott, top contender Alexandre Pantoja and, most recently, multiple-time title challenger Joseph Benavidez.

The unbeaten 28-year-old was scheduled to face Alex Perez at UFC on ESPN 28 in July, but was forced to withdraw with an undisclosed surgery. Now healthy, Askarov thinks he’s the rightful title challenger despite Moreno saying he doesn’t see a clear-cut No. 1 contender.