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UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo almost missed his second title defense at UFC 256.
After fighting Brandon Moreno for a draw in the main event of Saturday’s pay-per-view event, Figueiredo revealed that he suffered from a health issue that put his fight in jeopardy.
“Last night I had a stomach infection; I was in the hospital until 2 am, I came here to fight with a windy stomach and I didn’t know if I would fight well today, and that’s what happened, ”Figueiredo told UFC commentator Joe Rogan in Portuguese. “This fight was to the end, but I really won. Even with a queasy stomach, I came here and won, I stood up for my thing. I gave my blood with the time and came out with my hands raised ”.
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Among those by his side was his longtime manager, Wallid Ismail, who after the fight posted a video of the flyweight champion being transported back to the hospital for a checkup.
Speaking to MMA Fighting moments after the fight, Ismail indicated that the problems were related to Figueiredo’s weight cut, which forced him to make 125 pounds for the second time in three weeks, an unprecedented feat among UFC champions, a even though there were no problems on the scale.
“He had constipation during the weight loss,” Ismail said. “The fight almost didn’t happen. He only fought so that the pay-per-view did not lose the main event. He did not even attend the meeting after the [weigh-ins] because he did not have adequate rehydration after weighing. He made weight so easily on Thursday afternoon. “
UFC President Dana White was aware of the champion’s health and knew the promotion could lose its main event on Saturday. But after all the twists and turns of 2020, the hiccup said, “good luck making me cringe at anything.”
“Every time a man goes to the hospital, he is in danger,” White said. “Obviously, we gave him [the option]You want to fight or you don’t want to fight, it’s up to you. Obviously, he received the medical clearance, but he had a choice to fight or not, and he wanted to fight. “
Fortunately for MMA fans around the world, Figueiredo stepped forward and delivered a “Fight of the Year” candidate in the final pay-per-view fight of the 2020 promotion. The champion said he “felt like a champion in each round “and believed he had won the fight, but did not object to a point deduction that cost him the fight on two of the three judges’ scorecards.
“The referee did his job, I kept an eye on Moreno and the kick, unfortunately, went low although that was not what I wanted,” he said. “The referee did his job, but still, after he took the point, I decided to fight and knock him out right there. But I couldn’t, and thank god I went all the way and gave this show to fans who are used to seeing my fights end in the first round. I showed you today that I am here. If we pass the first round, we will fight five rounds to the end. I will only leave there on a stretcher ”.
With the buzz palpable after the UFC 256 headliner, rematch was the word on everyone’s mind. And while it won’t happen right away, Figueiredo is willing to face Moreno a second time.
“If they want to put him there again for me, rest assured that this time I’ll make the right camp to neutralize his game,” he said. “I’m here for whatever Dana wants me to do. Dana White, I am at your disposal. I stayed to defend a pay-per-view and had to regain weight in less than 20 days to put on this show. So, Dana, I’m at your disposal. If you want to do the rematch, do it. [But first] I will go home and enjoy my son and my family a little, let me breathe a little because the machine needs it ”.
