The Figueiredo family name has become synonymous with MMA greatness, largely thanks to Deiveson Figueiredo‘s dominant reign as a two-time UFC Flyweight Champion. But behind his impressive legacy lies another Figueiredo—a fighter who shares the same tenacity, grit, and love for combat sports. Meet Francisco Figueiredo, Deiveson’s younger brother!

From his roots in Soure, Pará, to his brief stint in the UFC, Francisco’s path is one of resilience and hard lessons. So, what happened to the man who was once heralded as a rising star? Let’s explore his origins and his career to find out why Francisco Figueiredo was ultimately cut from the UFC.

Where is Francisco Figueiredo from? Early life and background

Francisco Nazareno da Costa Figueiredo Junior was born on October 23, 1989, in Soure, Pará, Brazil—a remote city on the isle of Marajó. It’s here that Francisco and his siblings were raised by their father, a buffalo herder and practitioner of ‘luta marajoara’ – a traditional wrestling style unique to the region.

The Figueiredo brothers and their younger sister grew up in a household steeped in discipline and tradition. Francisco was the first to leave home, moving to Belém for high school. It was in this city that his love for martial arts began to take shape. Starting with Capoeira at 13, he juggled odd jobs as a bartender and sushi kitchen assistant before committing fully to MMA.

In a past interview, the younger Figueiredo revealed, “One day I was at the gym and a kid sat down next to me and said: ‘Do you want to work man?’, And, I really wanted to – I would have to go back to Soure if I didn’t get a job. I said: ’I want to’. He said: ‘I’m going to teach you how to make sushi’.”

He was lost at first, as growing up in the countryside meant that he had no idea what sushi really was. But Francisco persisted. He further revealed, “But I learned how to make sushi and I got another job, I worked as a bartender and as an assistant in the sushi kitchen. It was at that time that my brother came from Soure. I worked at this (restaurant) for about two years and then decided to just teach. I got a formal job and started teaching at the gym. That way, I had more time to train.”

Francisco Figueiredo then launched his professional MMA career in 2009, carving out a name for himself on Brazil’s regional scene. Fighting in the Jungle Fight promotion, he won the interim bantamweight title in 2018. Later, his plans to fight the reigning champion were scrapped due to the pandemic. But in 2021, ‘Sniper’s life took a turn as the UFC came calling!

The younger Figueiredo’s MMA record – Why did he leave the UFC?

In 2021, Francisco made his UFC debut against Jerome Rivera. It was a promising start, with a unanimous decision win. However, his sophomore effort against Malcolm Gordon ended in a disappointing loss. Despite bouncing back with a spectacular kneebar submission victory over Daniel da Silva – earning him a Performance of the Night bonus – his inconsistency persisted.

In his final UFC appearance at UFC 278, ‘Sniper’ faced Amir Albazi. The fight ended in a first-round rear-naked choke loss, marking the end of his UFC run. In August 2022, the UFC announced Francisco’s release. The reason? Likely a combination of inconsistent performances and a stacked flyweight division where every fight demands top-tier results and a 2-2 record may have been the reason.

Francisco’s journey may have hit a roadblock, but the fighter’s spirit runs deep in the Figueiredo family. Now, his brother Deiveson is set to take on Petr Yan at UFC Macau on November 23 in his quest to challenge for the belt in the bantamweight division. But for fans, Francisco’s story is a reminder that MMA isn’t just about winning titles. It’s about perseverance, embracing failure, and finding purpose, even in defeat.