Deiveson Figueiredo Vows ‘The Belt is Coming’ After Weight Miss Costs Him UFC Title

If Deiveson Figueiredo had come into weigh-ins a few pounds lighter on Friday, he’d be able to call himself the new UFC flyweight champion today.

Despite an impressive knockout of Joseph Benavidez in the UFC Fight Night 169 headliner, Figueiredo walked out of the Octagon a winner but not a champion. The Brazilian failed to make his contracted weight for the first time in eight promotional appearances, therefore sabotaging his chance at capturing UFC gold.

Benavidez did make weight and only he was allowed to capture the vacant crown, but “Joe Jitsu” didn’t have the storybook night he had been dreaming about for years. Benavidez (28-6) is now 0-3 in world title fights under the UFC umbrella and it’s anybody’s guess whether he’ll ever get another chance for glory.

Figueiredo (18-1) was defending the American’s takedowns throughout the first and early part of the second, but he was getting tagged by plenty of Benavidez’s punches. Figueiredo wasn’t hurt by his foe’s strikes, but he seemed to be a little tired at the end of the first and it appeared as though maybe Benavidez would finally be crowned world champion. But when the fighters clashed heads during an exchange of punches about 90 seconds into the second frame, a gash opened up on Benavidez’s forehead. From there, Figueiredo forced another exchange and eventually slammed a straight right to his counterpart’s face, dropping him and then quickly knocking him out.

  “I’m so sorry for not making weight, but I told you that I would give you a big show for Norfolk,” Figueiredo said after arguably his biggest career win. “Because you guys deserve a big main event. Thank you Norfolk for all of the support for the sport. Thank you to Benavidez, he is a great guy and a great champion.”

Figueiredo was jubilant after knocking out Benavidez, but he promised that at some point he will be crowned the flyweight champion. The Brazilian vowed to all who listened that he’d be in much better shape next time around and will walk out of the Octagon with the vacant strap.

“I’m here to fight for the people of Norfolk and for the people of the world,” he said. “The belt is coming. I’m going to be the next flyweight champion, there’s no doubt. Next time I’m going to make the weight and the belt will be around my waist.”