UFC fight of the month for November 2024: Petr Yan's win over Deiveson Figueiredo after five rounds of a thrilling back-and-forth
The UFC fight of the month for November 2024 is, with little dispute, Petr Yan vs. Deiveson Figueiredo. In the main event of UFC Macau, the two men locked horns in a bantamweight clash with title implications, and they more than delivered, dragging each other to the very end of five rounds.
Ahead of the bout, much was on the line. Yan had only just bounced back from a three-fight skid, beating Song Yadong via unanimous decision. He had much to do to rehabilitate his image. Meanwhile, Figueiredo had won three consecutive fights and looking for his fourth.
Round one saw 'No Mercy' implement his patented pressure game, backing the former UFC flyweight kingpin toward the fence. Desperate to gain Yan's respect, Figueiredo fired off a body kick and ducked under for a double-leg takedown. Yan's stellar takedown defense was quick to show, stuffing the shot and clinching.
Alas, that may very well have been the Brazilian's plan, as he executed a sneaky inside trip to land on top of his foe. But, the Russian has never been easy to control and forced a scramble, cycling past a myriad of different choke setups his foe tried using as deterrents.
A slick grappling sequence ensued, with Figueiredo using a body triangle to control Yan's posture, while the former UFC bantamweight champion controlled the wrist to eventually spin around and end up on top. From there, he dinged Figueiredo with short elbows and hammer fists, never giving him an inch.
Check out Petr Yan's outside trip against Deiveson Figueiredo:
Round two featured more of the same, with heavy pressure from Yan and attempted takedowns from Figueiredo. However, the Russian's takedown defense proved impregnable and they began trading low kicks and body kicks before Figueiredo found a home for his one-two.
However, when he tried to land it again, Yan's vaunted fight IQ showed itself as he intercepted the Brazilian with a step-in elbow. After coaxing a wild swing from Figueiredo by front-kicking him in the body, Yan stepped across and floored him with the smoothest outside trip of the night.
Yet, he did nothing with it as the round ended abruptly. Round three saw more action on the feet, with both men investing in thudding body shots. But, before long, Figueiredo reverted to his grappling and scored a brief takedown, but the one-time bantamweight kingpin was quick to scramble to his feet.
A brief clinch ensued, and Figueiredo blasted Yan to the body with a round kick, almost folding him in half. The stonefaced Russian resisted and fired off a series of uppercuts before Figueiredo sought his get-back in vain. The following two rounds, though, would heat up.
The championship rounds of the UFC Macau main event
In round four, both Petr Yan and Deiveson Figueiredo threw caution to the wind, causing the Brazilian to lose balance and allowing Yan to end up on top for a split-second. Once they returned to their feet, both men traded heavy leather, intent on stealing the round. That moment would soon come.
After stuffing yet another takedown from Figueiredo, 'No Mercy' fired off combination after combination, snapping his foe's head up with uppercuts. Undeterred, Figueiredo uncorked a right cross, reminding the division of his lethal punching power by flooring the Russian.
Check out Deiveson Figueiredo's knockdown of Petr Yan:
Alas, his efforts to pounce and end the bout with ground-and-pound were for naught. Yan survived to see the end of round four and was in cruise control for the final five minutes of the bout. Arguably the best boxer in the UFC, he battered Figueiredo's body with combinations, sapping him of his energy.
When Figueiredo tried to clinch for a moment of reprieve, Yan spun out of it with a back-elbow. The two men continued trading, with Yan losing his balance and attempting a fruitless takedown in the fight's dying seconds. In the end, with both men battered and breathing heavy, Yan's hand was raised in victory.
He won via unanimous decision and called for a rematch with reigning UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, who seemed more than happy to oblige him.