Darren Till gets honest about his performance in win over Yoel Romero
Credit: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo eyes a return to 125 lbs to fight Joshua Van after his UFC 332 comeback.
UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van continued a new era in the division with an instant classic win over Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331 earlier this month. Van defeated Pantoja by unanimous decision to retain the flyweight title and seems destined for a clash against top contender Manel Kape next.
Former flyweight titleholder Deiveson Figueiredo, who returns to bantamweight this Saturday at UFC 332, is considered one of the best fighters in flyweight history. In recent months, he's repeatedly shut down a return to flyweight due to the physical toll he suffered in cutting to 125 lbs.
Ahead of his fight against Payton Talbott this weekend, Figueiredo has seemingly changed his mind on returning to flyweight after UFC 332.
Deiveson Figueiredo promises to ‘knock out' Joshua Van in targeted flyweight return
During his UFC 332 pre-fight press conference, Figueiredo was asked about potentially returning to flyweight after fighting Talbott, and he made a stunning admission about fighting Van.
“I've been asking the UFC and telling them I will make that weight very easily. Just make that fight, I want that opportunity, and we'll see if his boxing is as good as mine,†Figueiredo said of fighting Van.
“200 percent, it needs to happen. If the UFC gives me that opportunity, I go in there and knock him out. Everyone wants to exchange with him…if he wants to strike with me, in front of me, the effect won't be the same, and he won't want to. [Alexandre Pantoja] should've used more grappling with the excellent Jiu-Jitsu he has.â€
Meanwhile, Figueiredo is looking to return to the win column after recent losses to Song Yadong and Umar Nurmagomedov. As the former champion approaches 40, Figueiredo could potentially push for another flyweight title run after UFC 332.
Should Deiveson Figueiredo return to the UFC flyweight division? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua is ACTUALLY HAPPENING on Dec. 11 and while the Eddie-Dana beef has taken up plenty of oxygen, we're still about to see two of the best and most popular heavyweights of this generation finally throw down.
So I'm curious, with the bout less than two months away, how hyped are we for Fury vs. Joshua? Is it too little too late or is this the perfect time for two legends who have done it all to settle their beef?
Merab
Dvalishvili can joke about his low finishing rate in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Dvalishvili is scheduled to challenge Petr Yan for
the bantamweight title in a trilogy bout at
UFC 333 on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. When a fan
recently asked him to predict the outcome, the former champion
jokingly suggested another decision victory.
Merab Dvalishvili jokes about his decision-heavy record ahead
of Petr Yan title fight at UFC 333
Dvalishvili is known for his relentless pressure and wrestling,
with 16 of his 21 career victories coming by decision. The Georgian
has recorded two finishes in the UFC: a technical knockout of
Marlon
Moraes in 2021 and a submission of Sean
O’Malley in his second title defense last year.
Asked how he would beat Yan, Dvalishvili described himself as a
“decision machine.â€
“There are three ways to win: knockout, submission, or decision,â€
Dvalishvili said in a brief
interview. “I’m a decision machine.â€
A fan asks Merab how he's going to beat
Petr
Yan 👀 “There are three ways to win: knockout, submission, or
decision. I’m a decision machine.” 😂 via: ghassan_elsolh IG
— MMA Pros Pick (@MMA_PROS_PICK_)
October 19, 2026
Movsar
Evloev rejects the notion that fans only want bloody
fights.
Evloev is scheduled to challenge Alexander
Volkanovski for the
Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight title at
UFC 333 on Oct. 24 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The Russian
challenger has won all 10 of his UFC bouts by decision but believes
fans appreciate his fighting style.
Movsar Evloev argues wrestling can entertain UFC fans ahead of
Volkanovski title fight
The recent departures of Michael
Page and Farid
Basharat have fueled debate about whether winning is enough to
secure a new UFC contract. Neither fighter was re-signed despite a
winning streak, though a lack of finishes has not been established
as the reason for either departure.
Evloev believes finishes are not the only measure of a fighter's
value. He says fans also appreciate tactics, skill and
wrestling.
“I have zero finishes in UFC, but I'm still in the UFC and I'm
fighting for the title,†Evloev told MMA Fighting. “That means only
finishes are not important. To show a good fight is also important.
If you have no finish, you can still show a good fight, an exciting
fight; you can show the beauty of wrestling. There are not just
fans of MMA who just wait for blood. There are so many good fans
who know MMA, and they understand, and maybe because of them I'm
still in the UFC.â€
#UFC333’s Movsar
Evloev credits fans with his being in the UFC despite having
zero finishes: “There is not just fans of MMA who just wait for
blood. There are so many good fans who know MMA, and they
understand, and maybe because of them I'm still in the UFC.” (🎥
@JoseYoungs) https://t.co/cvpUBVusyb