Deiveson Figueiredo wants a crack at the bantamweight title with a win over Brandon Moreno at UFC 263.
Deiveson Figueiredo is looking to follow in Henry Cejudo’s footsteps by becoming the next simultaneous UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion.
Speaking to reporters yesterday at Arizona Federal Theater ahead of Saturday’s highly anticipated UFC 263 pay-per-view, ‘Daico’ revealed his plans to move up to bantamweight with a win over Brandon Moreno at UFC 263.
“I’m always looking for the big fights and I want the boss to listen to this one,” Figueiredo, who will defend his flyweight title against Moreno in the UFC 263 co-main event, told reporters at the pre-fight press conference (h/t Damon Martin of MMA Fighting). “Cause I want him to give me the chance to move up [a weight class]. Cause I want to get that belt.”
Figueiredo fought Moreno to a draw in a five-round Fight of the Night at UFC 256 and likely would have walked away with the win had he not been deducted a point for landing an illegal groin strike in the third round. The Brazilian revealed that he was only fighting at ‘30 percent’ in the first fight and has promised to finish Moreno via KO in the rematch.
“I was sick in the first fight,” Figueiredo said. “I wasn’t 100 percent. I was actually fighting at 30 percent but now I’m 100 percent and I’m going to give my all and you’re going to see what it’s all about.”
“First of all, he talks a lot and I’m going to shut him up. Because I’m going to knock him out in the first round. I’m going to knock you out.”
UFC 263: Adesanya vs. Vettori takes place tonight, June 12 at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona.