UK fight fans are being treated to a unique Saturday lunchtime UFC main event this weekend as the promotion returns to China with two former champions jostling for a title shot early in 2025.
For the first time in a decade, the Octagon heads to Macau with ‘The God of War’ Deiveson Figueiredo taking on Petr Yan over five rounds in a match-up to find the next bantamweight contender.
Newly-minted 135lb champion Merab Dvalishvili, who took the crown from Sean O’Malley at the iconic Sphere event in September, has options.
Umar Nurmagomedov, cousin of former P4P star Khabib, is currently ranked #1, but questions remain about the validity of his albeit 18-fight unbeaten record.
And O’Malley, the marquee name at 135lb, could even secure an immediate rematch. Despite losing the belt via a unanimous decision at Noche UFC, he’s the PPV driver and a real ticket seller.
Likewise, this weekend’s main eventer Figueiredo has genuine star power; a real fan favourite.
The diminutive ‘God of War’ contested seven consecutive UFC flyweight title fights between 2020 and 2023; winning four, losing two and even drawing one.
Deiveson Figueiredo’s signature goblin run and punch pic.twitter.com/SCR0M6p71j
— 🌴ᴛʜᴇᴀʀᴛᴏꜰᴡᴀʀ🌴 (@TheArtOfWar6) August 5, 2024
His fights with Mexico’s Brandon Moreno defined an era in the UFC flyweight division and it was only when ‘Figgy Smalls’ exhausted himself at the lighter weight that brought an end to their rivalry.
Since moving to bantamweight at the end of last year, he’s won three straight and all against ranked leading contenders. His resume at 135lb already eclipses that of Umar.
Should he manage to come through Yan in China, Figueiredo will likely find himself in pole position for a crack at the bantamweight belt.
But, Yan too, has a tale to sell.
The 31-year-old Russian, based out of Thailand, rode a spectacular 15-1 fight record all the way to UFC gold, defeating Hall of Famers Urijah Faber and Jose Aldo consecutively, in 2020.
But a highly controversial DQ defeat to Aljamain Sterling in his first defence, due to an illegal knee, knocked him off his tracks.
He waited 14 months for the rematch only to suffer a split decision loss dubbed the ‘2022 Robbery of the Year’. Then was hit by another split decision defeat to O’Malley six months later.
Heading to China on the back of a cross-roads must win over surging Song Yadong in March, Yan can officially put three years of bad fortune behind him with a win this weekend.
With his all-action style, it’s surprising he has only eight finishes on his 17-5 record, but Yan’s never been stopped and all but one of those losses are, again, questionable.
Petr Yan beat the breaks off Faber
— Liam Picks Fights (@LiamPicksFights) November 19, 2024
Nearly punted his head third row 🤯 pic.twitter.com/lHlW1gB8OM
With nine knockouts and nine submissions in his 24 wins, Figgy definitely has the advantage when it comes to punch power and submission skills.
But Yan’s excellent boxing skills should never be overlooked and his explosive wrestling will be a test even for Figueiredo’s black belt Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
If anyone deserves a little bit of MMA luck it’s Yan, but MMA is a cruel mistress and Figueiredo looks reborn at 135lb.
Whilst I expect both to have big flash moments, the Brazilian’s tenacity and wider grip of every facet of the sport should ensure his arm gets raised after the final bell.
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