Deiveson Figueiredo is eager for more fights and money in 2021.
The flyweight king aims to once again enter the octagon four times next year after going 3-0-1 under the bright lights of the UFC in 2020, but would appreciate a bump in pay for his next title defenses.
Figueiredo successfully defended his throne with a first-round win over Alex Perez at UFC 255 on Nov. 21, and immediately agreed to a quick 21-day turnaround against Brandon Moreno in the main event of UFC 256. Figueiredo and Moreno fought to a majority draw, which meant no win bonus for either.
“I won my show money, the [Fight of the Night] bonus, but I haven’t gotten an extra — but I would like it,” Figueiredo said when asked if he was paid his win money despite fighting to a draw in such an epic five-round battle. “I want the UFC to at least have me make some pay-per-view [points].”
UFC president Dana White was very complimentary of the flyweights after UFC 256, saying company matchmaker Mick Maynard “went in and restructured and rebuilt that division and it’s one of the most exciting divisions in the UFC now.”
Figueiredo headlined the last two pay-per-view cards of the year after going 2-0 in Fight Night main events in 2020, but only UFC and ESPN know how many buys both cards did. Some champions and superstars make extra cash per per-pew-view buy, and Figueiredo wants that kind of deal for his next bouts.
“I gave my all, I love fighting in the UFC,” Figueiredo said. “I went in the octagon to break myself into pieces and give them the fight of the night because that’s what fans want to see, fighters that don’t slow down, that go in for a bloody game. I’m that type of fighter, you know, so I want the UFC to look at me with different eyes, that they give me pay-per-view [points].
“It’s missing some pay-per-view in my purse. If they already add it to this [UFC 256] fight, that would be great, brother, but I would like to start making pay-per-view [money] for my next ones. I deserve this. I love working for the UFC and I want to be more valued, you know?”
The UFC will likely book an immediate rematch between Figueiredo and Moreno for 2021 after what “Deus da Guerra” called the best fight of the year on Dec. 12, and the 125-pound king is interested in a catchweight superfight right after.
“[I want] a superfight for the ‘BMF’ belt,” said Figueiredo, suggesting a second edition of the “Baddest Motherfucker” belt created for the winner of Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz in 2019. “If the UFC wants this, I’m in. It would be another great fight to add to my game.”
Figueiredo is willing to move up in weight for this kind of challenge, but isn’t actually eyeing the current bantamweight champion Petr Yan as the opponent. Instead, “Deus da Guerra” wants to be the one to welcome former two-division champion Henry Cejudo back from retirement.
Cejudo walked away from the sport earlier this year after defending the bantamweight crown against Dominick Cruz. “Triple C” won his last six UFC bouts, including victories over Marlon Moraes, T.J. Dillashaw and Demetrious Johnson.
“They could do a belt between the 125 and 135 divisions, set up a weight and see who’s the baddest motherfucker in the lightweights,” Figueiredo said. “I want to fight Cejudo, man. He talks a lot, he’s always talking about everyone, so I want to stop this guy. I want to shut his mouth.”