UFC Fight Night – Deiveson Figueiredo vs Montel Jackson: Preview & Betting Tips

The bantamweight division welcomes an intriguing bout this Saturday at UFC Fight Night: Rio, where former flyweight champion Deiveson “Figgy” Figueiredo returns from injury to face rising contender Montel Jackson. 

It wasn’t long ago that Figueiredo (24-3-1) was one of the most feared finishers in the sport with his destructive blend of aggression, power, and slick jiu-jitsu which overwhelmed most of the flyweight division.

On the other side, Jackson (14-2), the 33-year-old bantamweight is quietly piecing together a four-fight winning streak. Jackson uses his 75-inch reach, which is massive for the division, to control range and pick apart opponents, making him very much one to watch.

Tale of the Tape

 Deiveson Figueiredo – Odds 3.25 

Record: 24-3-1

Age: 38

Height: 5ft5

Reach: 68”

Weight: Bantamweight

Stance: Orthodox

Montel Jackson – Odds 1.33

Record: 14-2

Age: 33

Height: 5ft10

Reach: 75”

Weight: Bantamweight

Stance: Orthodox

Deiveson Figueiredo vs Montel Jackson: Analysis

Figueiredo arguably made his name in the four-fight series with Brandon Moreno, which became an instant classic, solidifying his reputation as one of the most dangerous men under 135-pounds. But those wars also took something out of him, and now those battle scars are starting to gradually show.

Against Cory Sandhagen, he visibly struggled to keep pace, and when the fight hit the mat barely a minute in, Figueiredo appeared to accept defeat. And we also cannot forget that he suffered an ACL injury which sidelined him for months. 

While Jackson’s name is light on elite names, his technical striking, strong takedown defence, and ability to stay composed under pressure have made him one of the division’s more underrated prospects.

For Figueiredo to win, he must turn this fight into a grind because Jackson thrives in open space, where he can jab, kick, and dictate tempo. Figueiredo needs to crowd him and drag things into grappling exchanges. Yet that game plan demands cardio, speed, and confidence in his knee: three factors that remain uncertain at this point in his career.

Figueiredo vs Jackson: Prediction & Betting Tips

At this stage, Figueiredo’s experience can only carry him so far. Once a ferocious finisher, he now faces the physical reality of age and injury. Against a sharp, composed opponent like Montel Jackson, that’s a recipe for another frustrating night and also potentially the recipe for retirement.

I don’t want to jump the gun, and I never like saying fighters should retire, but, Saturday night does provide “Figgy” with a perfect opportunity to retire. He’s fighting in his native country of Brazil, he’s accomplished some great things in the sport, and at almost 40 coming back from an ACL injury, he really doesn’t have much else to prove.

I would love to say Figueiredo wins this and he can potentially go out on a happy ending, however I cannot overlook all of the physical factors of this matchup. I have Montel Jackson winning this one by KO/TKO at odds of 3.75.