UFC Rio fighter hoping for next title shot responds to Joe Rogan’s Merab Dvalishvili question

Follow us on Google Discover

Deiveson Figueiredo believes he has the answer to a question that’s been circulating since UFC 320.

The event marked another significant moment in Merab Dvalishvili’s journey at 135 pounds, solidifying his status as one of the division’s top fighters.

Dvalishvili defeated Cory Sandhagen in the co-main event, making it three successful bantamweight title defences in a row. He now stands just one more defence away from surpassing his teammate Aljamain Sterling’s record for consecutive title retentions.

Looking to prevent him from breaking that record is a former two-time flyweight champion with aspirations of achieving success across multiple weight classes in the UFC.

Deiveson Figueiredo details plan to beat Merab Dvalishvili after UFC Rio win

After Dvalishvili submitted Sean O’Malley at UFC 316 this past June, Joe Rogan questioned who could possibly dethrone the dominant Georgian.

“What do you do?” Rogan said of how to beat Dvalishvili. “You’re going to get tired. If you’re not that guy… everybody gets tired but him. It’s nuts. I know he says it’s just hard work, but is it really? It is, but what level of hard work? How many hours?

“The question is: is there a gameplan that would even work?”

Figueiredo recently gave his take during an interview with MMA Fighting ahead of his appearance in the co-main event at UFC Rio. After defeating Montel Jackson, ‘Deus da Guerra’ plans to push for a fight against Dvalishvili and believes he knows how to take down ‘The Machine’.

“I’ll definitely ask for a title shot — especially because, among the big names in the division, I’m the only one who hasn’t fought Merab yet,” Figueiredo said. “I hope I get that opportunity.

“If I go in there and deliver a great performance, that could get me a title shot. That’s what I’m after.

Deiveson Figueiredo isn’t the only one looking for a shot at Merab Dvalishvili

Figueiredo isn’t alone in his pursuit of a title shot. There are several other bantamweights who believe they’re just as deserving.

Following his win at UFC 320, Dvalishvili mentioned Yan as a potential opponent, and the Russian didn’t hesitate to express interest in a rematch, especially after their first meeting didn’t go his way.

Mario Bautista has also made it clear that he should be next in line if he can get past Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 321.

“I think it has to,” Bautista said on MMA Junkie Radio when asked whether another win should earn him a title fight.

“If you look at it, it’s gonna be nine straight wins. Getting this win and my last three performances — (Jose) Aldo, Patchy (Mix), and then Umar — nine-fight winning streak, I don’t know what else you could possibly do.

READ MORE: Khalil Rountree Jr reacts to Merab Dvalishvili’s shocking pre-UFC 320 actions

“I think that’s exactly what Merab had,” he continued. “He had to really fight for that title shot. Hopefully he sees that and gives me that same kind of grace and we’ll figure something out.”