Inferno Astral! Former champions Deiveson Figueiredo and Rafael Dos Anjos fight for survival at UFC 332

Deiveson Figueiredo and Rafael dos Anjos promote a UFC event. Photo: Montage/SUPER LUTAS

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This Saturday (3), in Utah (USA), the Brazilian Squad is not only fighting to win the flyweight belt (up to 56,7 kg) at UFC 332 , with Natália Silva . Former champions, Deiveson Figueiredo , 38, and Rafael dos Anjos , 41, living through an extremely delicate moment in their careers, aim to prove that they can still compete at a high level, despite their advanced age for combat sports.

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As if the bad moment wasn't bad enough, the former flyweight king and the former lightweight champion (up to 70,3 kg) also had to see two compatriots, also veterans, succumb in the octagon against much younger opponents, like those they will face this Saturday. In September, Alexandre Pantoja , 36, lost for the second time to Joshua Van , while Raoni Barcelos , 39, suffered the worst against Raul Rosas Jr , last Saturday (26) after suffering a sudden illness in combat.

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Therefore, 'Daico' and 'RDA' want to put an end to the veterans' bad streak, just as 39-year-old Patrício Pitbull managed to do in September. However, the duo's task is anything but simple. Deiveson and Rafael are underdogs in their fights against Payton Talbott and Alexander Hernandez , respectively. In the bantamweight division, the Paraense fighter lost two fights in a row and only won one of his last five bouts. In the lightweight division, the Niterói native, who hasn't fought since 2024, suffered three consecutive defeats and also only has one win in his last five fights.

In any case, despite the delicate phase they are going through in their careers and dealing with the pressure of a possible UFC cut and even the possibility of retirement, Deiveson and Rafael have not lost their confidence, much less their 'hunger for fighting'. Therefore, the former champions assure that they are not finished and are excited about another chance to turn things around. And, to get back on the winning track, the duo will need, more than ever, to be in top physical, mental and technical shape, as they were in the past.

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