Deiveson Figueiredo

Deiveson Alcântara Figueiredo (born December 18, 1987) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist.

He currently competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

He has also competed in the Flyweight division, where he is a former two-time UFC Flyweight Champion.

As of December 5, 2023, he is #8 in the UFC bantamweight rankings.

Figueiredo was born in Soure, Pará, Brazil, a small city on the isle of Marajó where buffaloes roam freely.

His father was a buffalo herder who practiced luta marajoara, a local folk wrestling style.

Deiveson has a younger sister and a brother – Francisco – who also is a professional mixed martial artist who was signed with the UFC.

He was a cowboy, working with his father at an animal farm until he was thirteen years old.

Around the age of nine, he followed his father's footsteps and began wrestling.

He moved to Belém to attend high school and started training in capoeira.

He started training MMA under the tutelage of UFC Bantamweight Iuri "Marajó" Alcântara at the age of sixteen.

Figueiredo made his professional debut in February 2012 against a fellow debutante Aluisio Ferreira.

He won the fight by first-round submission.

In his next six fights, Figueiredo fought in the Pará and Maranhão MMA circuits, mostly against debuting fighters, with David Silva and Joel Silva being the notable exceptions.

In late 2014, Deiveson signed with Jungle Fight, and was scheduled to make his first appearance with the organization at Jungle Fight 75 against Rayner Silva.

Figueiredo won the fight by a second-round TKO.

He was then scheduled to fight Jefte Brilhante during Revelation FC 3, but the bout was later cancelled.

He was scheduled to fight Henrique Souza during Revelation FC 4, but the fight was likewise later cancelled.

Figueiredo was scheduled to fight Antônio de Miranda during Jungle Fight 87, following a seventeen-month break from the sport.

He defeated de Miranda by submission mid-way through the first round.

He fought again four months later, during Jungle Fight 90, against the undefeated Denis Araujo Oliveira.

He defeated Araujo by a second-round TKO.

Figueiredo made his promotional debut on June 3, 2017, at UFC 212, facing Marco Beltran.

He won the fight via technical knockout by corner stoppage after round two.

His next fight came on October 28, 2017, at UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Machida against Jarred Brooks.

He won the fight via split decision.

On February 3, 2018, Figueiredo faced Joseph Morales at UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Anders.

He won the fight via technical knockout in round two.

Figueiredo faced John Moraga on August 25, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 135.

He won the fight via technical knockout 3:08 into the second round.

Figueiredo was expected to face Joseph Benavidez on January 19, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 143.

However the promotion clarified plans indicating that the pairing was off and that Figueiredo would be rescheduled for a separate event.

Figueiredo faced Jussier Formiga on March 23, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 148.

He lost the fight via unanimous decision, thus resulting in Figueiredo's first professional loss.

Figueiredo faced Alexandre Pantoja on July 27, 2019, at UFC 240.

He won the fight via unanimous decision.

This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.

Figueiredo faced Tim Elliott on October 12, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 161.

He won the fight via submission in the first round.

Figueiredo faced Joseph Benavidez for the vacant UFC Flyweight Championship at UFC Fight Night 169 on February 29, 2020.