UFC 290 has been the talk of the town for weeks now, but it seems the highly anticipated match between Deiveson Figueiredo and Manel Kape has been canceled. In contrast to certain fans’ hopes, UFC President Dana White has stated that the bout won’t take place during International Fight Week this summer. The cause? According to rumors, Figueiredo wants to upgrade to bantamweight.
Deiveson Figueiredo and His Rollercoaster Ride: From Uncertainty to Moving Up in Weight Class
White was questioned about the fight’s status in an interview following the occasion in Charlotte, North Carolina. White continued by stating that there have been different reports regarding the continuation of the battle, which has exacerbated the issue. He also disclosed that Figueiredo had initially expressed no interest in the bout to someone before changing his mind and declaring that it was once again on.
The final straw for the contest was when Figueiredo informed White that he was switching to bantamweight. Figueiredo has already had to leave a bout early for health-related reasons. He was forced to withdraw from his UFC 290 match in April because he wasn’t given the go-ahead by his doctor. His most recent match took place in January, and during the third round of a title battle against Brandon Moreno, he sustained an eye injury.
đ¨| Dana White announces that Deiveson Figueiredo is going up to bantamweight and his fight with Manel Kape at #UFC290 is OFF.#UFCCharlotte #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/0crTslZdTv
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) May 13, 2023
Nonetheless, Kape has had some terrible luck with booked fights while being on a winning streak in the flyweight class. Since 2022, he has been unable to take part in four separate contests. His fight with Alex Perez in March was called off on the day of the event because of Perez’s health problems. Despite the cancellation of Figueiredo vs Kape, UFC 290 still boasts an impressive line-up. The co-main event will see UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno face off against Alexandre Pantoja, while in the main event, Alexander Volkanovski will take on Yair Rodriguez for the UFC Featherweight Championship.
UFC 290: A Rollercoaster Ride of Cancellations and Changes, But the Show Must Go On
With 12 bouts in total, UFC 290 promises to be a memorable event for combat sports fans. While the cancellation of Figueiredo vs Kape may have been a disappointment, there’s still plenty to look forward to. In the realm of UFC and combat sports, cancellations and last-minute changes are par for the course. While fans were hopeful for a clash between Deiveson Figueiredo and Manel Kape at UFC 290, it seems that the fight will not be happening, and Figueiredo is looking to move up to bantamweight.
Despite this cancellation, UFC 290 still has a strong lineup with Brandon Moreno defending his flyweight title against Alexandre Pantoja and Alexander Volkanovski taking on Yair Rodriguez for the featherweight championship.
What are your thoughts on the cancellation of the highly anticipated match between Deiveson Figueiredo and Manel Kape at UFC 290 and Figueiredo’s decision to move up to the bantamweight division? Let us know in the comment section.
