Petr Yan vs Deiveson Figueiredo Prediction: Big-time bantams headline in Macau

Petr Yan takes on Deiveson Figueiredo this Saturday, November 23 at UFC Fight Night 248. The bout headlines the card at the Galaxy Arena in Macau, marking their first event in this region of China for 10 years. TNT Sports will broadcast the show live.

Here are my Yan vs Figueiredo predictions ahead of this festival of fights.

Michael Bisping defeated Cung Le in the main event of the last UFC event in Macau. Yan was yet to make his professional MMA debut when ‘The Count’ stopped Le in the fourth round of that bout. Figueiredo was active in his native Brazil, but his UFC contract would not arrive for another three years.

Now they follow in the footsteps of those legends of the sport, headlining their very own Macau card. This is a fight with tremendous pedigree. Yan is a former UFC Bantamweight Champion, having also had a separate reign as the Interim kingpin. 

Meanwhile, Figueiredo has enjoyed two reigns as the UFC Flyweight Champion. His four-fight series with Brandon Moreno in which they contested that belt is the stuff of legend. Figueiredo was crowned 2020 Fighter of the Year by numerous industry publications as well as the UFC itself.

While the world suffered unprecedented turbulence during that fateful year, Figueiredo went on an incredible run. ‘Daico’ scored a brace of wins over Joseph Benavidez, winning the UFC Flyweight belt in the process. He then successfully defended the strap with a submission over Alex Perez. 

Having won those three fights in less than four combined rounds, the Brazilian then went the full five with Brandon Moreno in the first bout of their quadrilogy. That Fight of the Night clash went to a draw, opening a new chapter in Figueiredo’s story.

Three more consecutive bouts with Moreno followed, with Figueiredo losing the series 2-1-1. Our subject moved up to bantamweight at the conclusion of this rivalry and has been in electric form. Figueiredo has beaten Rob Font, former UFC champion Cody Garbrandt and Marlon Vera in his last three fights. His considerable efforts have placed him fifth in the UFC Bantamweight rankings.

Yan is in far more mixed form than his rejuvenated foe. He won his last outing, a unanimous nod over Song Yadong in March. But before that, Yan was on a wretched run. It started when Aljamain Sterling outpointed him via split decision, taking his UFC Bantamweight strap in the process.

Sean O’Malley then won his own split decision over Yan at UFC 280 in a highly controversial result. Most feel Yan was robbed of a victory in this fight, with even O’Malley looking surprised on the night before returning to his usual cocksure nature on social media later.

Yan’s nightmare trio of fights ended with a unanimous decision loss to Merab Dvalishvili in March 2023. But a year out of the cage seems to have helped, with the Yadong win breaking the losing streak. Now ‘No Mercy’ looks to continue his rebuild against ‘Figgy’.

Petr Yan vs Deiveson Figueiredo Fight Odds

Yan is a 3/10 favourite to secure the victory in Macau. A Figueiredo win is marketed at 5/2.

UFC Fight Night: Yan vs Figueiredo Full Card

Main Card

Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

Yan Xiaonan vs. Tabatha Ricci

Song Kenan vs. Muslim Salikhov

Wang Cong vs. Gabriella Fernandes

Volkan Oezdemir vs. Carlos Ulberg

Zhang Mingyang vs. Ozzy Diaz 

Preliminary Card 

Xie Bin vs. Zhu Kangjie

Baergeng Jieleyisi vs. You Su-young

Kiru Singh Sahota vs. Choi Dong-hun

 Shi Ming vs. Feng Xiaocan

Nyamjargal Tumendemberel vs. Carlos Hernandez

Lone'er Kavanagh vs. Jose Ochoa

Xiao Long vs. Quang Le 

Maheshate Hayisaer vs. Nikolas Motta

Petr Yan vs Deiveson Figueiredo Prediction

Despite Yan’s status as a heavy favourite, I like the look of Figueiredo’s recent form. He has taken to bantamweight like a duck to water.

If this goes to the mat, you’d have to favour Figueiredo. He has the superior submission game of the pair. But on the feet it’s anyone’s ball game. 

I’m going to opt for the underdog here. Yan is an incredible talent but his poor form cannot be ignored. The decisions haven’t always been clear-cut, but losing takes a toll. Figueiredo on the other hand is looking excellent at bantamweight. I’m picking the Brazilian to prevail at 5/2.

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