The former UFC champion explains his decision to stay in the fight against Cory Sandhagen despite major setbacks.
Injuries and health setbacks didn’t stop Deiveson Figueiredo from stepping into the octagon against Cory Sandhagen at UFC Fight Night last Sunday. But there were some serious repercussions for the same. The ‘God of War’ looked way off from his usual self in the octagon. And while it had a lot to do with Cory Sandhagen putting an absolute masterclass, it maybe had little bit to do with Figueiredo’s health issues too.
The May 3rd Fight Night in Des Moines, Iowa ended via a technical knockout due to a knee injury to Figueiredo, while Sandhagen earned the Performance of the Night bonus.
In an interview with AG Fight, Figueiredo revealed that a jaw injury disrupted his sparring, while a bacterial infection and fever affected his overall preparation. He acknowledged that he was limited to mitt training and drills. Stating the obvious, it clearly wasn’t enough to face someone of Sandhagen’s caliber, a prime contender for the UFC Bantamweight Championship, now more than ever.
“I wasn’t 100%. Let me be clear, I was out of action for three weeks. I got hit in the jaw with a straight punch, and my jaw dislocated. That prevented me from doing any serious sparring for a month… So, I was doing positions, doing mitt movements, to burn calories, to avoid being inactive. And towards the end, during the trip, I got some scratches defending a takedown, I didn’t take proper care of them and it got infected. I traveled on Saturday night, at 2 am, with a high fever,” Figueiredo stated.
“I called my manager and said, ‘Cancel the fight because it’s not going to happen.’ I talked to my father and my friends. They encouraged me. Leaving home and having to come back empty-handed. I have children, I have a ton of things to pay for. Coming home empty-handed is not worth it. The higher class you live in, the higher the expense. I have to pay for my children’s schooling, my household bills, I have some investments in Brazil.”
Financial obligations and his role as a provider ultimately pushed “Deus da Guerra” to step into the Octagon. He admitted that he nearly withdrew but was encouraged to push through by family and friends. The Sandhagen bout was his first appearance since headlining against Petr Yan at UFC Fight Night 248 in November 2024, which he also lost via unanimous decision.
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Even after a losing streak of two, the former two-time UFC Flyweight champion remains optimistic. Figueiredo believes his top-5 bantamweight ranking (5th before the fight, now 6th) keeps him in line for another opportunity. “My manager is already in contact with them,” Figueiredo shared, confident that a new matchup is on the horizon.
