Former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo returned to action on home soil on Saturday at UFC Rio, where he faced surging bantamweight Montel Jackson in a high-stakes clash.
For Figueiredo (24-5-1), this fight was a chance to prove he still belonged among the elite. Since moving up to 135 pounds, the former flyweight champion has experienced mixed results, earning wins over Rob Font, Cody Garbrandt, and Marlon “Chito” Vera. However, he entered UFC Rio on a two-fight skid following losses to Petr Yan and Cory Sandhagen, eager to get back in the win column and reignite his title hopes.
Jackson (15-2) entered UFC Rio looking to spoil Figueiredo’s homecoming and secure the biggest victory of his career. Riding a six-fight win streak, the rising contender aimed to strengthen his hold on the #15 bantamweight ranking and make a statement by taking down a former world champion.
Round 1 – Jackson opened the fight throwing a quick combination, looking to land something big on Figueiredo early. The former champion evaded the attack and created space, responding with a few sharp calf kicks before timing a takedown after Jackson missed with a heavy right hand.
Figueiredo immediately took the back and hunted for a choke, but Jackson managed to explode back to his feet. Both fighters traded calf kicks as Figueiredo appeared to bide his time for another takedown opportunity.
Late in the round, Figueiredo closed the distance with a right hand followed by a body kick as the horn sounded.
Round 2 – Figueiredo wasted no time applying pressure to start the second round, charging forward and landing a heavy left hand before taking Jackson down. Once on the mat, the former champion quickly transitioned to mount and locked in an arm-triangle attempt.
Jackson fought hard to defend and managed to escape, but Figueiredo smoothly took his back. The American worked to his knees and eventually to his feet, forcing Figueiredo to reset. Jackson landed a solid left hand during a brief exchange, but the momentum still leaned heavily toward the Brazilian halfway through the round.
Jackson swung for a big finish late, uncorking a few strong combinations in the final seconds, but it wasn’t enough to steal the round from Figueiredo’s dominant control.
Round 3 – Figueiredo opened the final round by immediately closing the distance, keeping steady pressure on Jackson, who appeared hesitant to commit to any big strikes after being repeatedly taken down earlier.
Midway through the frame, Figueiredo controlled the tempo, calmly picking his moments while Jackson struggled to find urgency. The American seemed content to match the slower pace, despite clearly needing a finish to turn the fight around.
With under two minutes remaining, Jackson muscled a takedown of his own but failed to capitalize on the position. In the closing seconds, Figueiredo pointed to the canvas, inviting a slugfest, but he instead shot for a single-leg as the round, and Jackson’s comeback hopes, ran out of time.
Official Result: Deiveson Figueiredo def. Montel Jackson via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)
