This isn’t just another fight, folks. Deiveson Figueiredo, a two-time UFC flyweight champion, is stepping into the bantamweight co-main event at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City with his career potentially on the line. He’s currently sitting at No. 11 in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings at 135 pounds with a 25-7-1 record, but honestly, that number feels like it’s hanging by a thread. This is a pivotal bout for the 38-year-old.
Figueiredo’s Slide: Can He Find That Championship Fire Again?
Let’s be real, Figgy has been on a rough stretch. The man has lost two straight fights and four of his past five. After making a splash by winning his first three fights as a UFC bantamweight, things took a turn. He took losses to top contenders Petr Yan and Cory Sandhagen. Then there was that “uneventful” decision win against Montel Jackson, which didn’t exactly scream “comeback.” Since then, it’s been two more losses, including a decision against Umar Nurmagomedov where Figueiredo even missed weight, and most recently, a submission loss to Song Yadong. Does he have any of that championship fire left, or is he just here for Talbott to take his number on the charts?
Payton Talbott: The Highly Touted Prospect Ready to Break Through
On the other side of the octagon is Payton Talbott, and this guy is on a mission. With an 11-1 record, Talbott is a highly touted prospect who’s looking to finally get a number next to his name in the rankings. He’s won five of his first six UFC fights, which is seriously impressive. After a humbling loss to Raoni Barcelos, Talbott bounced back huge. He scored impressive decision wins over Felipe Lima and, get this, former two-division champion Henry Cejudo. That’s a statement win if ever there was one. He’s got momentum, he’s got skill, and he’s got Figueiredo directly in his path.
Tonight’s card has not been kind to the older underdogs. We’ve seen King Green, Rafael dos Anjos, Marvin Vettori, and Court McGee all fall. Only Roman Kopylov managed an upset. Given Figueiredo’s age and his recent run, it’s hard not to be worried for him. This fight is a must-win if he wants to stay relevant in the bantamweight division, but Talbott isn’t exactly a walk in the park. Get ready, because this co-main event is going to be a wild ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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