Former flyweight champ, Deiveson Figueiredo, is stepping into new territory. After 14 fights in the flyweight division, he’s making his bantamweight debut this Saturday. His opponent? Rob Font. The venue? UFC on ESPN 52 in Austin, Texas.
In a one-on-one with Sherdog.com, Figueiredo spilled some beans. He shared that he’s been training with Henry Cejudo in the U.S. for the entire camp.
Here’s a fun fact: Figueiredo didn’t even know who he’d be fighting when he left Brazil to start his camp. “The UFC gave me three options, and among them I chose Font,” the Brazilian fighter revealed. Apparently, Font had been vocal about wanting to welcome Figueiredo to the 135-pound division. That’s why he got picked.
Figueiredo’s training camp was a bit different this time. He didn’t have to stick to a strict diet to hit 125 pounds. According to him, it was one of the best camps he’s ever had. “It’s much better to do a camp happy and healthy,” he said.
The Fight Ready atmosphere also added to the experience. “Cejudo is surrounded by amazing people,” Figueiredo noted. Plus, having his wife and kid with him the whole time was a bonus. He’s promising to bring his best self to the Octagon as a result.
But don’t expect Figueiredo to switch up his aggressive style for this fight. He’s not planning to change his approach to counter Font’s boxing skills. “Cejudo and I worked out a very nice tactical plan for the fight,” Figueiredo explained.
He’s aware of Font’s knockout power, but Font should be wary of his heavy hands too. “All I can say is that I’m going to decide the fight as always,” Figueiredo said. He’s promising fans the best version of himself this Saturday.