Deiveson Figueiredo (photo via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Following Deiveson Figueiredo’s failure to make championship weight for his bout tonight with Joseph Benavidez, the contender’s manager has issued a statement.

Figueiredo is fighting Benavidez in the main event of UFC Norfolk, and originally, he was supposed to be competing for the vacant, flyweight title. But, on Friday, Figueiredo came in 127.5 for the fight and as a result, he can longer win the championship.

After Figueiredo failed to make weight for the fight, his manager Wallid Ismail issued this statement to BJ Penn.com.

“Stuff happens. He described to his doctor what he was feeling and his doctor told him to be careful and not cut any more weight. He felt a bad cramp and was nauseous. It was that. His doctor advised him to stop the weight cut,” Ismail said. “Now, he knows he needs to give the fans a great show for this fight. He promised the fans a big fight and this is what he is going to do tomorrow. There will be blood and it still will be a war. He wants to say thank you to Benavidez for still taking the fight and sorry to the fans and to the UFC for missing weight. It was a medical issue. He’s never missed weight in his entire career before this and he apologizes.”

Figueiredo has gone 6-1 to date in the UFC and carries a 17-1 record into tonight’s contest.