Recently reappointed UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo picked up a hand injury that will keep him from defending the title at least until this winter. He hasn’t fought since taking the flyweight strap back from Brandon Moreno, and the prospect of a year’s layoff for the champ might tempt the UFC into anointing an interim champion. This, Figueiredo told Ag Fight, would be “messed up”.
“It would be pretty messed on the UFC’s part. I can’t fight for the belt and then they create another one? That way I’ll know they really don’t want me as the champion. I’ll have to rip off the head of whoever has that interim belt.
Figueiredo Says Prospect of Interim UFC Flyweight Title is “Messed Up”
It took them over four months to create an interim title for Ngannou. I’ve just completed two months with mine. There’s no way they’ll make an interim belt. I’m not opposed to fighting, but I have to be 100% and the money has to be good.
I need to value myself. I do what they like, I give them a show and I’ll charge that value as an athlete who sells fights.”
Figueiredo continued, pointing out that his hand injury is preventing him from training. He can’t train, he can’t fight, and shouldn’t be expected to compete again so quickly.
“I’m injured. It’s an injury that didn’t let me train properly. I can barely make a fist. I’m going through physical therapy to deal with that, it’s a tear in the cartilage.
My finger is crooked. My other hand is also injured. I can’t punch pads properly. These are fighting injuries and they want me to fight again so soon?
I’m not a machine. I’m 34 and I need to take care of my body. We can book a fight for October or November. I want to be 100% for a fight.”
The flyweight title has been dominated in recent years by the rivalry between Moreno and Figueiredo. Their first fight ended in a draw, the second went to Moreno via submission, and their most recent went to Figueiredo via decision. With the trilogy tied, a fourth fight between the pair to settle the score once and for all seems enticing.
However, Figueiredo isn’t interested in fighting Brandon Moreno again, and finish-happy challenger Kai Kara-France – a Kiwi fighter on the same team as Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski – is waiting in the wings.
In the meantime, Figueiredo expects the UFC to be patient and wait until the champ is ready. Do you think the UFC should wait until Figueiredo can fight again, or is this exactly the scenario that interim titles were made for? Let us know in the comments.
