Former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo returned to action on home soil Saturday at UFC Rio, facing rising bantamweight Montel Jackson in a high-stakes clash.
For Figueiredo (24-5-1), this fight was a chance to prove he was still among the elite. Since moving up to 135 pounds, the former flyweight champion has had mixed results, picking up wins over Rob Font, Cody Garbrandt and Marlon “Chito” Vera. However, he entered UFC Rio on the back of a two-fight skid following losses to Petr Yan and Cory Sandhagen, eager to get back in the win column and reignite his title hopes.
Jackson (15-2) headed into UFC Rio looking to spoil Figueiredo’s homecoming and secure the biggest win of his career. Riding a six-fight win streak, the rising contender looked to solidify his hold on the #15 bantamweight rankings and make a statement by taking down a former world champion.
Round 1 – Jackson opened the fight with a quick combination and looked to land something big on Figueiredo early. The former champion dodged the attack and created space, responding with a pair of sharp calf kicks before timing a takedown after Jackson missed with a heavy right hand.
Figueiredo immediately took the back and looked for a choke, but Jackson managed to get back to his feet. Both fighters traded calf kicks as Figueiredo appeared to wait for another takedown opportunity.
Late in the round, Figueiredo closed the distance with a right hand, followed by a body kick as the horn sounded.
Round 2 – Figueiredo wasted no time applying pressure to start the second round, charging forward and landing a heavy left hand before knocking Jackson down. Once on the mat, the former champion quickly transitioned into mount and connected on an arm-triangle attempt.
Jackson fought hard to defend himself and managed to escape, but Figueiredo retreated smoothly. The American worked his knees and eventually his feet, forcing Figueiredo to reset. Jackson landed a solid left hand during a brief exchange, but momentum was still leaning heavily toward the Brazilian midway through the round.
Jackson delivered a big finish late, uncorking a few strong combinations in the closing seconds, but it wasn’t enough to steal the round from Figueiredo’s dominant control.
Round 3 – Figueiredo opened the final round by immediately closing the distance and putting steady pressure on Jackson, who was hesitant to make any big attacks after being knocked down repeatedly earlier.
Midway through the frame, Figueiredo controlled the pace and calmly chose his moments while Jackson struggled to find urgency. The American seemed content with the slower pace, despite clearly needing a finish to turn the fight around.
With less than two minutes remaining, Jackson secured a takedown of his own but failed to capitalize. In the final seconds, Figueiredo pointed to the canvas, inviting a slugfest, but instead shot for a single leg as the round, and Jackson’s hopes of a comeback, ran out of time.
Official result: Deiveson Figueiredo def. Montel Jackson via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
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