Former two-time flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo started off his bantamweight run with three straight wins. But the Brazilian veteran failed to maintain consistency and lost his next two bouts, which completely derailed his momentum. But Figueiredo remains unfazed despite the disappointing results in his previous fights, and as he prepares for UFC Rio to fight Montel Jackson, ‘Deus Da Guerra’ has already revealed what he wants next.

He may be 37 years old and on a losing skid, but Deiveson Figueiredo is not ready to hang up his gloves just yet. He knows how badly he needs to make an impact this weekend. And after that, the former champion plans to shoot his shot and call out the bantamweight champion, Merab Dvalishvili, which is bad news for another top 135’er, Petr Yan. Here’s what he had to say.

Deiveson Figueiredo wants to leapfrog over Petr Yan to fight Merab Dvalishvili

‘Deus Da Guerra’ will be heading into UFC Rio with plans to put on a kind of performance that will make his case for a title shot unquestionable. His fight with Merab Dvalishvili will be a fresh new matchup for the division. With the champion’s win over Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320, the top contenders would all be rematches for ‘The Machine.’

“On Saturday, I want to go in 100 percent, show what I’m capable of, and get that win. And of course, 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,” Deiveson Figueiredo told MMA Fighting.

Given the position he is in right now, one must wonder how Deiveson Figueiredo plans to earn his shot. Petr Yan, who’s looking to land a rematch against ‘The Machine’, has a better chance of getting the UFC’s nod because of his 3-fight winning streak. Well, Figueiredo has a plan.

Finish Montel Jackson to clear all doubts and become undeniable. “I hope I get the opportunity to fight him… I do believe that [a finish could help me earn a title shot]. If I go in there and deliver a great performance, that could get me a title shot. That’s what I’m after,” he added.

While Figueiredo attempts to win this weekend and call for a title shot, Petr Yan recently provided a timeline for when he wants to fight Merab Dvalishvili. ‘No Mercy’ wants to close the year by rectifying the mistake he made in his initial encounter against the Georgian national.

Petr Yan wants Merab Dvalishvili in December

Merab Dvalishvili, much to the dismay of Deiveson Figueiredo, declared that he’s open to considering Petr Yan next. This is music to the Russian star’s ears, and he claims that if everything goes according to plan, “It’s possible” for them to fight, especially in December. ‘No Mercy’ also stated that he was never his full self when he first fought ‘The Machine’, and now, he’s itching to show how good he actually is against Dvalishvili.

“If it lines up with the UFC’s plans, I believe it’s possible. I’ve been waiting for this chance, and I’m ready to fight in December. I believe it’s going to be a great fight that has history,” Petr Yan told Ariel Helwani. “Last time I was compromised. I was only at 50 percent, so this time it will be something different. It will be a great and exciting fight.”

Usually, Dana White chooses the opponent for champions, so maybe Deiveson Figueiredo manages to impress the CEO at UFC Rio and earn his shot. This could create a problem for Petr Yan. Another issue for ‘No Mercy’ is that despite Merab Dvalishvili naming him as a potential opponent, ‘The Machine’s team has also expressed willingness to fight against the 125lbs champ Alexandre Pantoja, for a champion vs champion fight. What do you think happens next in the 135 lbs title picture? Drop your comments below.