At UFC 321, Umar Nurmagomedov earned a dominant unanimous decision over Mario Bautista, reasserting himself among bantamweight’s elite after a razor-thin title loss to Merab Dvalishvili earlier in the year. Now 19-1, with notable victories over Cory Sandhagen, Raoni Barcelos, and Nate Maness, Umar continues to showcase his trademark Dagestani control, striking precision, and elite composure. As he looks to climb back toward another title opportunity, a matchup that combines high stakes and name value makes perfect sense.

His next fight should be against Deiveson Figueiredo. The former two-time flyweight champion, now ranked No. 6 at bantamweight, recently edged Montel Jackson by split decision following competitive losses to Cory Sandhagen and Petr Yan. Figueiredo’s explosive striking, finishing instincts, and black belt-level grappling make him one of the most dangerous and unpredictable fighters in the division. A bout between Figueiredo and Nurmagomedov would provide a thrilling contrast of styles: the Brazilian’s aggression and knockout power against the Dagestani’s calculated pressure and suffocating control.

Stylistically, the fight would showcase a battle between chaos and discipline. Figueiredo thrives in wild exchanges and submission scrambles, while Nurmagomedov excels at nullifying opponents and dictating pace through positional mastery. Both are capable finishers with championship experience, and the winner would be firmly positioned within reach of a title shot.

Last Five Fights – Umar Nurmagomedov:

1. Win over Mario Bautista – Decision (unanimous), UFC 321 (October 25, 2025)
2. Loss to Merab Dvalishvili – Decision (unanimous), UFC 311 (January 18, 2025)
3. Win over Cory Sandhagen – Decision (unanimous), UFC on ABC 7 (August 3, 2024)
4. Win over Bekzat Almakhan – Decision (unanimous), UFC Fight Night (March 2, 2024)
5. Win over Raoni Barcelos – KO (body kick and punch), UFC Fight Night (January 14, 2023)

Last Five Fights – Deiveson Figueiredo:

1. Win over Montel Jackson – Decision (split), UFC Fight Night (October 11, 2025)
2. Loss to Cory Sandhagen – TKO (knee injury), UFC on ESPN (May 3, 2025)
3. Loss to Petr Yan – Decision (unanimous), UFC Fight Night (November 23, 2024)
4. Win over Marlon Vera – Decision (unanimous), UFC on ABC (August 3, 2024)
5. Win over Cody Garbrandt – Submission (rear-naked choke), UFC 300 (April 13, 2024)