Deiveson Figueiredo will have to wait until he’s back in his native Brazil to get a clearer picture of the knee injury he suffered during his UFC Des Moines headliner against Cory Sandhagen. The former two-time UFC flyweight champion is scheduled to undergo an MRI once home to determine the severity of the damage.
Figueiredo’s manager, Alex Davis, revealed that despite the setback, his client remains in “good spirits” and is optimistic that the injury isn’t too serious. Early indications suggest he may have sustained a knee strain, which would be a far better outcome than a ligament tear—an injury that could potentially require surgery.
The incident happened during the second round as both fighters engaged in a complex grappling entanglement. Sandhagen shifted his position while Figueiredo was engaged on the ground, and the sudden movement appeared to twist Figueiredo’s knee awkwardly. He immediately tapped out in visible pain. According to Sandhagen, this is a scenario he frequently practices with one of his coaches, UFC featherweight and grappling phenom Ryan Hall, and knee injuries aren’t uncommon from that specific setup.
After the bout, Figueiredo needed assistance leaving the cage and was taken backstage for further medical evaluation. He later posted a brief message on social media acknowledging the outcome of the fight.
“The result is not always what we want, but the fight goes on,” Figueiredo wrote on Instagram (translated from Portuguese). “Thank you from the heart to God, my family, my team and all of you who cheer, support and believe in me.
“We will come back stronger. I’m a warrior and this is just another chapter of my story!”
This marks Figueiredo’s second consecutive defeat, following a hard-fought five-round decision loss to former champion Petr Yan at UFC Macao back in November.
Before this recent skid, Figueiredo had made a strong impression in the bantamweight division, racking up three straight wins. His streak included high-profile victories over ex-champion Cody Garbrandt and former title contender Marlon Vera.
Now returning to Brazil, Figueiredo is set to consult with his medical team in the coming days. An MRI will determine the full extent of the damage to his leg and help map out the next steps in his recovery.
