Former two-time UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo is returning to Brazil to undergo an MRI on his injured knee. This scan will reveal the full extent of the damage sustained during the disappointing conclusion to his main event bout against Cory Sandhagen at UFC Des Moines.
On Sunday, Figueiredo`s manager, Alex Davis, confirmed to MMA Fighting that despite the loss, Deiveson is in “good spirits” and hopeful that the injury is not overly severe.
While a definitive diagnosis is still pending, there is a possibility that Figueiredo may have only suffered a knee strain. This outcome would be significantly better than a tear, which could potentially require surgical intervention.
The injury happened in the second round while the two bantamweights were grappling on the ground. Sandhagen postured up from the position, causing a torque on Figueiredo`s knee, which immediately led him to tap out from the considerable pain. Sandhagen later explained that this is a movement he frequently drills with his grappling coach Ryan Hall, and acknowledged that it`s not unusual for a fighter to suffer a knee injury in that specific situation.
This is apparently what occurred to Figueiredo, who ultimately needed assistance leaving the octagon and received medical attention backstage after the fight.
Shortly after the fight concluded, Figueiredo shared a brief statement regarding the result on social media.
“The result is not always what we want, but the fight goes on,” Figueiredo wrote on Instagram (translated). “Thank you from the heart to God, my family, my team and all of you who cheer, support and believe in me.
“We will come back stronger. I’m a warrior and this is just another chapter of my story!”
This setback marks Figueiredo`s second consecutive defeat, following a decision loss in a challenging five-round fight against former champion Petr Yan back in November.
Prior to these two losses, Figueiredo had been on a successful run in the bantamweight division, securing three straight victories, including notable wins over former champion Cody Garbrandt and one-time title challenger Marlon Vera.
Now back home in Brazil, Figueiredo is scheduled to meet with his doctor in the coming days to undergo the MRI scan, which will provide the final diagnosis and extent of his leg injury.
