UFC commentator Joe Rogan earned the ire of flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo when he called UFC 277’s interim 125-pound clash a “real title fight”. Figueiredo, who remains sidelined by a hand injury, was none to pleased with Rogan’s comments, and offered to “prove” it to Rogan when the time comes.
Joe Rogan’s initial comment came when he claimed that Figueiredo might not make weight at 125 pounds again, and that their last fight – a razor-close decision that went Figueiredo’s way – could have been called a Moreno victory.
Figueiredo Slams Joe Rogan Over “Real Title Fight” Call
“This is the real world title fight. I don’t think we’re ever going to see DF down at 125 again, and I think those two gentlemen, there’s a real good argument that Moreno won that last fight, as well. So that is, in my opinion, that’s the world title fight right there.”
Figueiredo, speaking to reporters after UFC 277, went into detail as to how he planned to prove Joe Rogan wrong. “I’m gonna have to step into the octagon, go into the arena and look for Joe Rogan’s crystal ball.
I want to show it to him. Maybe it could be a little friendly wager. I’m gonna make weight, and I’m gonna show it to him. I’m gonna just basically tell him what’s up, what’s really going to happen.”
Deiveson Figueiredo also revealed that his hand remains injured. Figueiredo has been unable to train or to defend his title ever since the third Moreno fight, and is still plagued by the injury in his hand. Perhaps unwittingly, in doing so he acknowledged that there’s some validity to Joe Rogan’s claim.
‘“The hand’s hurting a little bit, maybe it’s the age. At home, it was hurting, I have to tell you. I’ve been doing a lot of exercises for the hand and working it as much as possible. I think I’m going to be ready to go and, believe me, I do believe I still have a lot to give in the octagon for you guys.
I’m going to make them swallow all of the words and all the talk that is happening right now. Everything they’ve been saying about me, I’m going to make them swallow their words.”
Regardless, Figueiredo remains confident that he’ll return to 125 pounds to defend his title. The most likely scenario is a fourth fight against Brandon Moreno to unify the division. If that happens, it will mark the first ever tetralogy to take place entirely in the UFC.
Is Joe Rogan right about Figueiredo, or did he miss the mark this time? Let us know in the comments.
