MMA has always been home to some eccentric characters who have their own methods of preparing for fights.
The former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka is perhaps the best example with a recent video showing him training whilst blindfolded which led to criticism from the fans.
On May 3, Deiveson Figueiredo looks to bounce back from his loss to Petr Yan last November when he faces Cory Sandhagen in Des Moines, Iowa.
Sandhagen has recently taken extra measures to try and get closer to a title shot with both men being in the mix at 135-pounds as two of the top contenders who are yet to face either Merab Dvalishvili or Sean O’Malley.
Figueiredo gave his supporters a glimpse into his training camp in the build up to his second consecutive main event spotlight where he’s been putting in work to keep his head movement sharp.
Fans laugh at Deiveson Figueiredo getting hit by cones as he tests his head movement and reaction time
Deiveson Figueiredo has always had one of the most fan-friendly styles amongst the top fighters in the smaller weight classes.
The former UFC flyweight champion has got remarkable power in his hands and he often stalks his opponent’s down to try and land single strikes with huge consequences.
This unique style can also leave him open to counter strikes if he’s unable to slip the offense that is coming back at him because Figueiredo likes to hold his hands low to bank on his reactions keeping him safe.
In a video posted on his Instagram, ‘Deus Da Guerra’ was seen moving side-to-side whilst he uses his head movement to dodge cones that are being thrown at him from off-screen with impressive accuracy.
This drill is certainly unique but it does make sense for a fighter that counts on his vision and split-second decision making to get the better of striking exchanges.
The only problem is that in the first few seconds of the video that Figueiredo posted, he gets immediately caught on the top of the head, slips two of them and then is hit square in the face by the fourth cone.
“10-9 Yellow disk,” wrote one fan after the post was shared on X.
“What is my goat doing,” remarked another whilst multiple replies referenced the 2004 movie ‘Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story’ where to learn the sport, Vince Vaughn’s are forced to dodge wrenches and traffic.
“If he can dodge a wrench he can dodge a ball.”
Fans express the same concern about Deiveson Figueiredo’s training
Whilst Deiveson Figueiredo might be working on improving his movement and reactions, several fans expressed the same concern ahead of his return on May 3.
Cory Sandhagen is another one of the bantamweight division’s most talented strikers but he has also been known to mix in his grappling from time-to-time.
There isn’t a track record for Figueiredo being completely outmatched in the grappling exchanges but it seems that fans are more worried about this element of the fight over anything else.
Several responses stated that the former flyweight champion might be focusing on the wrong things before he makes the trip to Iowa.
“All this to get held down for 5 rounds. Go back down to 125 bro.”
