Deiveson Figueiredo calls for ‘dream fight’ against former UFC champ after UFC 300 win

Deiveson Figueiredo targets Dominick Cruz after UFC 300

During a recent interview with Brazilian publication Canal Encarada, Figueiredo called for a shot at UFC legend Dominick Cruz.

“People are pushing some names, but what I really want is to fulfill a dream fight of mine, which is to fight Dominick Cruz,” Figueiredo exclaimed. “It would be amazing to fight at [UFC 303] in June, that depends on [Cruz]. If he signs the contract, I’m ready. I want to fight him, and I think he’s a guy who can take me to a title shot.”

As of this writing, Cruz hasn’t addressed Figueiredo’s callout, and he hasn’t hinted at when he could potentially return to the Octagon.

Cruz hasn’t fought since a TKO loss to Marlon Vera in Aug. 2022. Before that, he earned back-to-back decision wins over Pedro Munhoz and Casey Kenney in 2021.

Figueiredo’s recent addition to the bantamweight title mix adds even more crowding into the division. A win over another former champion like Cruz could prove to the UFC matchmakers that he’s a legitimate title threat in the stacked group.

Figueiredo remains a dangerous out for most of the top bantamweights and flyweights, and a matchup with Cruz could be enough to earn him a possible No. 1 contender fight.