Deiveson Figueiredo focused on Joseph Benavidez rematch, but open to eventual Henry Cejudo fight

Deiveson Figueiredo has goals of becoming a dual champion and says the UFC's flyweight division isn't going anywhere.

Deiveson Figueiredo has goals of becoming a dual champ.

Figueiredo (17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) is coming off a second-round knockout over Joseph Benavidez, but was not crowned UFC flyweight champion due to missing weight. It was the first weight miss of his career.

With the flyweight title still vacant, Figueiredo is planning on a rematch with Benavidez.

“I’m very focused on this rematch,” Figueiredo told MMA Junkie through an translator. “He deserves this rematch. He made the fight happen, even though I was not on weight. So let’s face it again, and I’ll catch him again.”

Benavidez came out strong and was able to remain technical in the beginning, bouncing in and out of range. Figueiredo had Benavidez in some early trouble in some grappling exchanges, but Benavidez was able to scramble out of them.

In Round 2, Benavidez’s approach got a little reckless. He lunged in and clashed heads with Figueiredo, which caused a big gash on his forehead. Figueiredo was able to capitalize and eventually knocked Benavidez out.

But Figueiredo said it was only a matter of time before he caught him.

“We already expected that he would try and beat me up, and we knew at that at some point he would try to take the fight to the ground. But I was prepared for everything,” Figueiredo said. “I was focused on knocking him out, and there was no other.”

With the title still vacant, former flyweight champ and current UFC bantamweight champ Henry Cejudo said he considered the outcome as a flyweight title defense for him.

Figueiredo said he’d be happy to face Cejudo at either flyweight or bantamweight since he has his own plans of winning two titles simultaneously.

“If Cejudo one day wants to come back (to flyweight), I will be waiting for him,” Figueiredo said. “One day, I will own the belt of the two (divisions) – my (division) and that of Cejudo. Believe me. God is with me.”

But Figueiredo assured that for now, the flyweight division isn’t going anywhere as long as he has something to say about it.

“The division will never end. I will save this category,” Figueiredo said. “I will always make aggressive fights. I will take the audience to their maximum delirium. I will always make it happen. We will have the rematch, me and Benavidez.

“The division will not end … I’m talking: Believe me.”