Deiveson Figueiredo has revealed what surprised him after his victory over Montel Jackson at UFC Rio last weekend.
On Saturday night, Deiveson Figueiredo got himself back on track in the UFC’s bantamweight division. He managed to beat Montel Jackson and although it was a fairly close fight, the judges gave him the nod, leaving the Brazilian sensation as a contender at 135 pounds.
RELATED: UFC Rio winner looks at No. 1 contender after nail-biter at home
Looking ahead to the future, it certainly appears that Figueiredo has a possible shot at the world title in his sights. He is one of the few contenders yet to lose to champion Merab Dvalishvili, but it may take another win or two before he actually becomes eligible.
In a post-show appearance, Figueiredo explained what surprised him about his clash with Jackson in Rio.
Figueiredo reflects on the UFC Rio win
“It was kind of surprising how well he was able to defend my takedown attempts and stuff,” Figueiredo said on the ESPN+ post-fight show. “But we trained very hard. … He landed and landed a punch at the end of the first round, but nothing else. I was able to put up a good fight.”
“It’s amazing,” Figueiredo said. “It’s really amazing to be able to experience this moment here with a crowd, to feel like a champion. It’s contagious. It’s amazing.”
“(I will fight) whenever UFC wants me to fight,” Figueiredo said. “Maybe at the end of the year. If the UFC wants it, it might give me a great opportunity to fight for the title.”
Quotes via Nice junkie
What do you think should be next for the former flyweight champion? Is he a legitimate contender for the bantamweight title? Let us know your thoughts on this, BJPENN Nation!
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