The UFC is taking a championship bout to its upcoming trip to Salt Lake City on Oct. 3, but the actual match-up — and depth of the UFC 332 card — have drawn fierce criticism from fans and pundits since its official announcement.
Natalia Silva and Wang Cong headline the numbered event at the Delta Center, a battle for a flyweight belt that was made vacant due to an injury to champion Valentina Shevchenko. Rising prospect Payton Talbott meets Deiveson Figueiredo in the co-main event, with the former flyweight king trying to rebound from an uncomfortable 1-4 run.
The main card of UFC 332 also includes King Green vs. Esteban Ribovics, Khaos Williams vs. Roberto Soldic and Ateba Gautier vs. Roman Kopylov.
For Figueiredo, the online backlash is a not entirely fair.
“About the criticism, it’s a little annoying,” Figueiredo told MMA Fighting. “But I’m sure that all the fighters the UFC put on the card are ready to have a great fight, you know? And what looks weak can become strong. I’m sure — especially me, man, I’m ready to have a great fight.”
Figueiredo admits, however, he didn’t expect to be featured in the co-headliner of a numbered show after losing two in a row against Umar Nurmagomedov and Song Yadong.
“Man, I have a name, I have a history,” Figueiredo said. “I admit that I didn’t expect it, but there were some complications on the card, and I moved up to do the co-main event, you know? I’m happy, man. Once again I see the UFC valuing me, giving me great fights, great cards, always fighting on the main card — when it’s not main event, it’s the co-main event. I’m always ready, and I always want to be ready for when the UFC calls me.”
“Deus da Guerra” is motivated to snap his current losing skid and upset the rising prospect in Salt Lake City, and is already in the city to finish his camp and acclimate to the high altitude after doing a full camp in Thailand.
“He has excellence in striking,” Figueiredo said of Talbott. “But I see myself as a guy with more excellence. If I fight at my level, aggressively, I’m sure I’m going to go right at him, and with great chances of knocking him out. But I can also do the grappling style. I’m a guy who trains all areas, so anything can happen in this fight. I’m prepared to have a great fight against him.”
As for the main event, Figueiredo pulls for the Brazilian talent to come out victorious in the main event and bring another UFC title to his home country.
“I’m sending energy to Natalia so that she can achieve this in her life,” Figueiredo said. “Having the belt is really good, man. It changes many things in your life, and I want her to be champion.”
