Figueiredo angling for Johnson, Cejudo fights just after UFC title acquire

ABU DHABI — UFC president Dana White wishes Deiveson Figueiredo to defend his belt flyweight title at the very least twice now that the business ultimately has a new 125-pound king. But Figueiredo has distinctive strategies.

Talking to the media following an spectacular one particular-spherical beatdown of Joseph Benavidez in the major celebration of UFC Struggle Island 2, Figueiredo reported he’d appreciate to have former WEC and UFC star Demetrious Johnson as his subsequent opponent at flyweight.

“That’s definitely a fight that all the fans would wanna see, me towards Demetrious Johnson,” Figueiredo stated of the former UFC winner, who’s now less than contract with Just one Championship. “If the UFC wants to carry him back again, I’m gonna be really pleased, and I’m gonna knock him out with a great deal of satisfaction. Very satisfied to do that.”

A lately-retired fighter is also in Figueiredo’s radar. In addition to Johnson, he referred to as for a bantamweight clash with former two-division titleholder Henry Cejudo.

“I’d like to have a battle at 135, you know?” Figueiredo stated. “I’d like to be the man to deliver Cejudo back from retirement. I think he was seeking for a worthy opponent, and I’m that male. I’d appreciate to shift up and be in a position to combat him at 135.”

Now keeping a 19-1 pro record and two victories in excess of perennial contender Benavidez, Figueiredo reported he’s the guy to defeat at flyweight. That delivers excess accountability and stress – but also likelihood.

Earlier in the push meeting, UFC President Dana White wouldn’t weigh in on who occupies the No. 1 contender in the flyweight division right now. Names like Brandon Moreno and Askar Askarov are presently jockeying for that placement, but White reported he’d form matters out afterwards.

In the meantime, Figueiredo said the function doesn’t end.

“Now that I have the belt, I have to educate quite really hard,” Figueiredo said. “I’m the male that everybody wants to defeat, so I’m the guy that everyone’s searching at.”