Deiveson Figueiredo Discusses ‘Racist’ Online Attacks Following UFC 270 Win

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Newly minted Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo has experienced a litany of attacks from fans on the internet since beating Brandon Moreno.

Following his fiery interview on the MMA Hour, where Figueiredo asked for one million dollars to make a fourth fight with Brandon Moreno, the champ discarded the possibility for revenge in Mexico. At the end of UFC 270, “Daico” claimed he would be willing to face Moreno in his home country of Mexico, but he has since changed his mind. On Thursday, the flyweight champion held a press conference at his Team Figueiredo gym in Belem, Brazil, where he spoke of racist attacks he has suffered from fans online.

“Since Moreno said I was a great fighter but a terrible human being, I’ve been suffering attacks from Mexicans who are being racist with me, calling me a ‘monkey,’” Figueiredo said.

Following the press conference, Figueiredo spoke to Sherdog, explaining that everything seemed to start building before the second fight, when one of Moreno’s coaches attacked him.

“Everything started right there, but when Brandon Moreno made a comment, in which he talks as a human being I’m no good and as an athlete I’m great, racist Mexicans restarted to attack me again,” Figueiredo stated. “That crazy thing is that we are all Latins who suffer the same kind of prejudice; we should be fighting against it, not encouraging them. I truly hope the UFC takes the necessary steps against those absurd [fans].”

The comments began to flood in after Figueiredo emerged victorious at UFC 270, and in the Brazilian’s opinion, the fight in Mexico is off the table.

“Mexicans want Henry Cejudo’s head,” the champ noted. “They would kill us if we agreed to make that fight in there. Now I’m the champion, if UFC wants that fight, Moreno should go to Brazil to face me.”

If the fourth Moreno match is ultimately not his next opponent, he would be more than willing to negotiate with his promotion to get a fight set.

“I’m asking for one million dollars to do the fourth [Moreno] fight, which is something that’s getting boring,” Figueiredo admitted. “But of course we can fight Kai Kara France, [Askar] Askarov, [Alexandre] Pantoja or whoever UFC wants me [to fight]. It’s just a matter of conversation, and we will come to a good agreement for all sides.”

Figueiredo finished his interview by making sure that his complaint is not addressed to all Mexicans.

“I love Mexico,” the Brazilian champ concluded. “I have a lot of Mexican friends in [the] USA. My wrestling coach is Mexican, but this minority [that attacks me], I don’t even consider Mexicans.”