Deiveson Figueiredo fires back at Petr Yan comment

Deiveson Figueiredo fired back at bantamweight champion Petr Yan on May 27 after Yan made a comment regarding Figueiredo's faceoff with Song Yadong, with "Deus da Guerra" making clear he has no intention of letting the remark slide.

Figueiredo, 38, carries a 25-6-1 record into his upcoming bantamweight assignment and sits at number five in the divisional rankings. The Brazilian fights out of Team Figueiredo in the orthodox stance and brings a well-rounded threat to every fight, averaging 1.61 takedowns and 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 53 percent. He acknowledged the distraction but stated plainly that his focus remains on his next fight, while expressing confidence that his path will cross with Yan once more.

Petr Yan, the reigning bantamweight champion, holds a 20-5-0 record and operates out of Russia's Archangel Michael Club. The 33-year-old switch-hitter is one of the division's most prolific strikers, landing 5.12 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy — numbers that underline why he carries serious weight when he comments on divisional affairs. His remark about Figueiredo's faceoff with Song Yadong was enough to draw an immediate public response.

Song Yadong, ranked sixth at bantamweight, owns a 22-9-1 record and at 28 years old remains one of the division's more dangerous strikers, averaging 4.42 significant strikes per minute. The Chinese fighter known as "Kung Fu Kid" stands five-foot-eight with a 67-inch reach and is central to the situation that sparked the exchange.

Why it matters

• Figueiredo at number five and Song Yadong at number six are in direct competition for positioning behind champion Yan
• A future Figueiredo versus Yan matchup carries title implications, and Figueiredo's public response keeps that rivalry warm
• The three-way dynamic between a champion commenting on contenders adds pressure to an already crowded divisional picture