Despite 40-pound weight cut ahead of first loss, Deiveson Figueiredo not moving up until he wins UFC title

Deiveson Figueiredo suffered the first defeat of his professional mixed martial arts career at UFC Nashville, dropping a decision to top ranked flyweight Jussier Formiga. A few days removed from the contest, he reflects on what went wrong before even entering the Octagon.

“God of War” had a perfect 15-0 record as a fighter going into the contest, including three knockouts in four UFC wins, but had to struggle with a rough weight cut this time since he was forced to stay out of action to heal a foot injury that stopped him from fighting Joseph Benavidez in January.

“I cut a lot of weight on short notice,” Figueiredo told MMA Fighting. “I was injured and way too overweight, and that made me slow, with no strength and no timing for takedowns.

“I usually weigh around 152 pounds, and this time I was at 165 pounds. I wasn’t training, the injury wouldn’t let me do it. I haven’t trained jiu-jitsu for four months when I started this camp in Los Angeles, and when that happens you have no timing. Jiu-jitsu is like a chess match, if you don’t train you have no moves.”

Even though he struggled going from 165 to 126 pounds to face Formiga, the Team Alpha Male fighter says he never considered pulling out of the card. Also, “God of War” doesn’t plan on moving up to bantamweight right now.

“I think I only properly trained for a month for this fight, and that didn’t get me 100 percent ready and with good cardio,” Figueiredo said. “I will fix the mistakes and come back different, no doubt about it. I’ll be more aggressive.”

Figueiredo says Sergio Pettis would be his ideal opponent next, but “The Phenom” announced his move to bantamweight not that long ago, so the Brazilian would be down to facing the winner of Wilson Reis vs. Alexandre Pantoja, which is set for UFC 236 on April 13.

“I felt upset (with the loss), but that won’t take away my desire to train and come back as soon as possible,” Figueiredo said. “I will win the flyweight belt and then go to 135. It will be good. I’m curious to try (fighting at) bantamweight. Meanwhile, I have a goal and that is winning the flyweight title. I’ll knock out everyone that gets in my way.”