Figueiredo predicts fourth-round submission win over Song at UFC Macau

Former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo has predicted a fourth-round submission victory over Yadong Song when the two meet in the UFC Macau main event on Saturday. The Brazilian, who has lost three of his last four bouts, enters the fight under pressure to prove he remains a relevant force in the 125-pound division.

Figueiredo split his training camp between two Brazilian gyms — The Fighting Nerds in São Paulo and Pitbull Brothers in Natal — spending two weeks at each. He credited Pablo Sucupira of Fighting Nerds with devising the overall game plan, while Patricio and Patrick Pitbull added finishing details at the second camp.

“I spent two weeks in each one,” Figueiredo said. “I had an excellent experience with Jean [Silva] and Pablo Sucupira during those two weeks in São Paulo at Fighting Nerds. In fact, it was Sucupira who devised the entire strategy for this fight. Then I finished my camp in Natal at Pitbull Brothers, where Patrick and Patricio added some more details that I think will be very important in this fight.”

Despite training at gyms associated with distance control, Figueiredo says aggression will be his priority on fight night. “For this fight, I want to bring my most aggressive version,” he said. “Yadong is very fast and powerful with his strikes. But I also hit hard and change levels very quickly. I can take him down at any moment.”

On his specific prediction, Figueiredo was direct: “A submission in the fourth round, where Yadong loses a lot of his speed.”

A win would set up a return to Brazil, with Figueiredo eyeing a São Paulo card in October. The 36-year-old is also mindful of job security following the recent UFC release of fellow Brazilian Ketlen Vieira, though he believes his track record offers some protection.

“I think performance, history, and commitment are factors that the company takes into account,” said Figueiredo, who is 14-6-1 since joining the UFC in 2017. “In the fight against [Cory] Sandhagen I was sick and had a broken jaw, but since it was the main event, I didn’t withdraw. I don’t see myself being fired by the UFC now. This company changed my life and my dream is to retire in the UFC and enter the Hall of Fame.”

When asked to rank the greatest flyweights of all time, Figueiredo placed himself third behind Demetrious Johnson — whom he cited for his title defence record — and Henry Cejudo, a two-division champion. “I fought six times for the belt and I think I made history in the division,” he said.