Jussier Formiga Looks To Secure No. 1 Contender Spot At UFC Nashville

The UFC has remained relatively quiet in regards to the status of the flyweight division.

Henry Cejudo recently defeated TJ Dillashaw to defend the belt, and with Dillashaw vacating the bantamweight title, Cejudo would seem a logical choice to fight for it. But maybe he wants to remain at 125 pounds.

If that is the case, Saturday night’s UFC Fight Night 148 event from Nashville, Tennessee on ESPN+ would be a perfect time for Jussier Formiga to secure his status as the No. 1 contender in the division.

A winner of three straight fights, including submissions vs. Ben Nguyen and Ulka Sasaki, Formiga has been right on the cusp of fighting for the belt since joining the UFC in 2012 with a 14-1 record. However, he lost his debut to John Dodson and has faced an uphill climb over the past seven years.

Formiga has posted a 8-4 overall mark with the UFC and is 7-2 around his last nine. That stretch includes an October decision win vs. Sergio Pettis and a 2015 split decision loss in Mexico to Cejudo.

Of course, the challenge in front of Formiga is a solid one in the form of Deiveson Figueiredo. Unbeaten over 15 pro fights, Figueiredo likely feels he is also on the verge of competing for the belt after wins over John Moraga, Joseph Morales and Jarred Brooks since coming to the promotion.

So, while we await news on the future of the UFC flyweight division, we just might find out the top challenger to the title this Saturday night.

Below is the current UFC Fight Night 148: Thompson vs. Pettis fight card on ESPN+ from Nashville, Tennessee’s Bridgestone Arena:

MAIN CARD (ESPN+/8 p.m. ET)

Welterweight: Stephen Thompson vs. Anthony Pettis

Heavyweight: Curtis Blaydes vs. Justin Willis

Lightweight: John Makdessi vs. Jesus Pinedo

Flyweight: Jussier Formiga vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

Featherweight: Steven Peterson vs. Luis Pena

Female Flyweight: Maycee Barber vs. JJ Aldrich

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+/5 p.m. ET)

Featherweight: Bryce Mitchell vs. Bobby Moffett

Bantamweight: Frankie Saenz vs. Marlon Vera

Female Flyweight: Alexis Davis vs. Jennifer Maia

Strawweight: Randa Markos vs. Angela Hill

Bantamweight: Chris Gutierrez vs. Ryan MacDonald

Flyweight: Eric Shelton vs. Jordan Espinosa