Figueiredo criticizes Dvalishvili's takedown finishing ability.
In the high-stakes world of the UFC's bantamweight division, where every uttered word is a potential headline and every critique a calculated move in the psychological warfare that precedes the physical battle, former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo has launched a precisely targeted verbal jab at the division's relentless force, Merab Dvalishvili. Following his own impressive victory over Montel Jackson at UFC Rio, a win that solidified his status as a legitimate threat at 135 pounds, Figueiredo didn't just bask in the glory; he immediately set his sights on the top of the mountain, calling out the Georgian wrestling machine.But this wasn't a simple call-out; it was a strategic dismantling, a public diagnosis of a perceived flaw in an otherwise seemingly impregnable armor. 'I want to prepare for him,' Figueiredo stated, his words carrying the weight of a man who has shared the Octagon with the best.'I see only one thing that Merab does not do perfectly. He executes takedowns, but he does not know how to finish his opponent.' This single sentence, delivered with the cool confidence of a seasoned veteran, isn't just trash talk—it's a fascinating tactical revelation that cuts to the very heart of Dvalishvili's fighting identity and sets the stage for a potential clash of styles that could define the future of the weight class. To understand the gravity of Figueiredo's critique, one must first appreciate the statistical and stylistic juggernaut that is Merab 'The Machine' Dvalishvili.Under the tutelage of the legendary Ray Longo and Matt Serra, Dvalishvili has perfected a style of combat that is as exhausting as it is effective, a relentless, high-pressure wrestling assault that seems to drain the very will from his opponents. His record for the most takedowns landed in UFC bantamweight history isn't just a number; it's a testament to a ceaseless engine, a man who operates on a different cardiovascular plane.He doesn't just take you down; he takes you down again, and again, and again, piling up control time and round victories through sheer, unadulterated volume. This approach has led him to a staggering eleven-fight win streak, a run that includes dominant victories over former champions like Jose Aldo and Petr Yan, where his wrestling was so overwhelming it effectively neutralized two of the most dangerous strikers the division has ever seen.Yet, Figueiredo's observation, while seemingly a minor technicality, exposes a critical narrative that has followed Dvalishvili throughout his ascent. For all his takedown prowess, his finishing rate inside the Octagon is notably low.Of his eleven UFC wins, only three have come inside the distance, with his last stoppage victory dating back to 2018. He is a master of the decision, a points fighter of the highest order.This is where Figueiredo, a hunter by nature with a resume littered with submissions and knockouts, sees his opening. He is essentially questioning Dvalishvili's killer instinct, his ability to transition from dominant positions to fight-ending sequences.It's the difference between a chess player who grinds you down move by move and a checkmate artist who pounces on a single mistake. For a fighter like Figueiredo, who possesses fight-ending power in his hands and a slick, dangerous guillotine choke, the prospect of being taken down is not necessarily a death sentence; it's a transition to a different phase of combat where his own finishing skills can come into play.He is daring Dvalishvili to do more than just hold him down; he is challenging him to try and finish him, a proposition that carries immense risk for both men. This potential matchup is a classic striker-versus-grappler dichotomy, but with modern, nuanced twists.Figueiredo, having moved up from flyweight, has looked rejuvenated, carrying his power with him while seemingly avoiding the brutal weight cuts that may have hampered him in the past. His victory over Rob Font and his dominant performance against Jackson showcased a patient, powerful striker with a formidable ground game of his own.Dvalishvili, meanwhile, represents the ultimate test of that takedown defense and scrambling ability. The fight would hinge on a series of critical questions: Can Figueiredo keep the fight standing long enough to land his concussive power shots? If taken down, can he replicate the defensive prowess of a Yan or Aldo, or will he be smothered against the cage for fifteen or twenty-five minutes? And most intriguingly, if Dvalishvili achieves his trademark top control, will he fall into his pattern of positional dominance, or will he feel the pressure of Figueiredo's pre-fight words and aggressively hunt for a submission or ground-and-pound finish, potentially opening himself up to the very counters and submissions that Figueiredo thrives on? The broader context of the bantamweight division adds another layer of intrigue.With champion Sean O'Malley awaiting his next challenger, a decisive win for either man in this hypothetical bout would make an undeniable case for a title shot. For Dvalishvili, a victory over a big-name former champion like Figueiredo would remove any remaining doubt about his championship credentials.For Figueiredo, a win over the division's number one contender would be a storybook achievement, a rapid climb to the top of a second weight class that would cement his legacy as one of the sport's greats. Figueiredo's call-out, therefore, is more than just a fighter seeking a big fight; it's a brilliantly calculated gamble.He is publicly framing the narrative around Dvalishvili's one perceived weakness, attempting to get inside his head before a contract is even signed. He is positioning himself not as an underdog being hunted, but as a dangerous predator waiting for the grappler to make a mistake.It's a psychological ploy reminiscent of the mind games employed by legends like Muhammad Ali and Conor McGregor, where the fight begins long before the first bell rings. By vocalizing what many analysts have quietly noted, Figueiredo has thrown down a gauntlet that is as much about technique as it is about mentality.He has questioned not just Dvalishvili's skill set, but his entire finishing ethos. The response from Dvalishvili and, ultimately, the UFC matchmakers will now determine whether this verbal jab is the first strike in a future Fight of the Night, a clash that promises a dramatic collision between relentless pressure and explosive finishing power.
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