Deiveson Figueiredo is back.
On Tuesday, the UFC announced the former flyweight champion will square off with surging contender Montel Jackson at the promotion’s return to Rio de Janeiro on Oct. 11.
Figueiredo has not competed since losing to Cory Sandhagen
at UFC Des Moines in May, when he tore the anterolateral ligament in his knee during the second round. Figueiredo avoided surgery and is now recovered and ready to step in as the promotion returns to his home country, but he does so with some pressure. After a hot start upon moving up to 135 pounds, “Figgy Smalls” is now on a two-fight losing streak, and a loss to Jackson could end his bantamweight title aspirations for good.
Currently ranked No. 15 in the UFC’s bantamweight rankings, Jackson is on an impressive run, notching six consecutive wins dating back to 2021. Most recently, Jackson won a unanimous decision over Daniel Marcos, also on the UFC Des Moines card.
UFC Rio is the promotion’s first Fight Night event in the city since 2015, which was headlined by a bout between Demian Maia and Ryan LaFlare, and will take place at Farmasi Arena.
