Ever since he was watching Pride FC, Deiveson Figueiredo has been obsessed with fighters' nicknames.
He needed a game for himself, too, and despite not being a big fan of the critically acclaimed ultra-violent video game series, the eponymous “God of War” Kratos I was attracted to this.
Thus, “Deus da Guerra”, a rough translation of the game's title into Portuguese, was born, as the Brazilian son of a farmer rained chaos on the UFC flyweight division for years, eventually becoming the champion. Battle Brandon Moreno, who captured and defended the ship and formed one half of the legendary tetralogy.
“Kids like it better because of the game, but I just identify with the character,” Figueiredo told The Post through an interpreter this week. He explained about Kratos, who has an impressive image with bright red swaps on his eyes and head. Fighters bleach their hair and imitate it with crimson stripes. “I like the idea of painting. I like the idea of looking like Kratos. I like the whole God of War concept.”
In the same way that Kratos mowed down Greek temples in-game in the original trilogy, then created an incredible second act in which he defeated Norse gods in recent titles, Figueiredo is a second-class player. We are well on our way to victory.
Figueiredo (24-3, 18 finishes) will take on the former bantamweight champion at UFC Fight Night (similar to “Fight Morning” in the U.S.) in Macau, China, on Saturday (6 p.m. ET, ESPN+). If he defeats Petr Yan, he will be one step closer.
Figueiredo, who already has a 3-0 record at 135 pounds since leaving the former champion's lightweight division, has wins this year over former champion Cody Garbrandt and 2024 bantamweight title challenger Marlon Vera. is already on the lips of current champion Merab Dvalishvili. .
The UFC appears to be aiming for the first title defense between Dvalishvili and undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov, but it wouldn't be surprising to see Saturday's winner move straight into championship contention.
Dvalishvili has already identified Figueiredo as a more appealing opponent than Nurmagomedov, and there is no doubt that the Brazilian is more skilled inside the Octagon.
“He's a more dangerous guy,” Dvalishvili said the night he defeated Sean O'Malley to become champion in September. “It excites me more.”
That's music to Figueiredo's ears, who turns 37 next month.
Although he's not getting any younger, and he says his goal is to fight four times a year (if the UFC mandates it), Figueiredo must first pass a tough test with Yan. At one point, Yan's 135-pound limit overlapped with the Brazilian's 125-pound limit. Reign of the Pound.
Yan is known for his striking, while Figueiredo is more rounded, but in recent years has been more likely to finish with a tapout than a knockout.
“I've been training a lot in boxing and kickboxing,” Figueiredo said. He has as many wins by KO as he does by submission. “I know he's been training in Thailand. He's been working on the clinch a lot and making sure he's ready for it.”
Earlier this week, a video surfaced showing Figueiredo and Yan (17-5, 8 finishes) posing for a duel in front of a fountain, with Yan saying something to his opponent. Neither of them spoke the other's language as their native language, and their strong command of English, which they had never shown publicly, had everyone smiling.
Yang told MMAAnd he warned that a very tough night lies ahead for the former flyweight.
Figueiredo remembered it a little differently.
“I think he told me he loved me, and I just told him I loved him back,” Figueiredo joked. “I don't know, dude. I don't know what he said.”
One thing that has become less strict these days is weight loss. I no longer have to lose another 10 pounds the day before a game.
Figueiredo said he felt “a little smaller than my opponent” in his bantamweight debut against Rob Font last year, but by the time he tapped out Garbrandt at UFC 300, he was much more comfortable.
“My body was already in good shape for the second match,” Figueiredo said on the third day after the match. “I feel like a monster right now. I feel like I'm the right size.”
