Exploring the origins of Deiveson Figueiredo’s renowned UFC nickname.
There are titles, and then there’s being called the “God of War,” a nickname Deiveson Figueiredo has embraced in the unforgiving world of the UFC. The 37-year-old Brazilian is a former two-time UFC Flyweight Champion who moved up to bantamweight in 2023. He now holds the No. 5 spot in the UFC bantamweight rankings.
Figueiredo’s father, a buffalo herder and wrestler, passed down the trade. And so by the age of nine, Figueiredo began wrestling. By 16, he shifted focus to mixed martial arts, setting the stage for his future in the sport. He made his professional MMA debut in February 2012, submitting Aluisio Ferreira at Knock Out Combat.
Figueiredo continued in Brazil’s regional circuit before signing with the UFC in 2017. At UFC 212, he earned a second-round TKO win over Marco Beltran in his promotional debut. Known for his aggressive style and warrior persona, Deus da Guerra has a professional record of 29 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw.
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Figueiredo is nicknamed “Deus da Guerra” in Portuguese, which translates to “God of War.” He earned the nickname for two reasons: his aggressive fighting style and fearless mindset inside the Octagon, and his striking resemblance to Kratos, the iconic character from the God of War video game series. He even wears a red stripe in his hair, echoing Kratos’ signature facial markings.
Figueiredo’s most recent fight was a decision loss to Petr Yan in November 2024. He’s scheduled to headline UFC on ESPN 67 on May 3, 2025, against top contender Cory Sandhagen.
| 29 Matches | Wins | Losses |
| By Knockout | 9 | 1 |
| By Submission | 9 | 1 |
| By Decision | 6 | 2 |
| Draws | 1 | |
