UFC 324: Umar Nurmagomedov vs Deiveson Figueiredo Preview & Prediction
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Statement stakes at bantamweight as Umar Nurmagomedov meets former champion Deiveson Figueiredo in the UFC 324 featured prelim.
Umar Nurmagomedov vs Deiveson Figueiredo facts
What time are Umar Nurmagomedov and Deiveson Figueiredo expected to walk out?
Where is UFC 324? T-Mobile Arena, Nevada, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC 324? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC 324
What TV channel is UFC 324 on? UK – TNT Sports Box Office / USA – Not televised
Where can I stream UFC 324? UK – TNT Sports subscribers who have paid for the fight can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC 324: Gaethje vs Pimblett main card
Justin Gaethje vs Paddy Pimblett (Lightweight)
Sean O'Malley vs Song Yadong (Bantamweight)
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs Derrick Lewis (Heavyweight)
Natalia Silva vs Rose Namajunas (Women’s Flyweight)
Arnold Allen vs Jean Silva (Featherweight)
UFC 324: Gaethje vs Pimblett prelims
Umar Nurmagomedov vs Deiveson Figueiredo (Bantamweight)
Ateba Gautier vs Andrey Pulyaev (Middleweight)
Nikita Krylov vs Modestas Bukauskas (Light Heavyweight)
Alex Perez vs Charles Johnson (Flyweight)
Michael Johnson vs Alexander Hernandez (Lightweight)
Josh Hokit vs Denzel Freeman (Heavyweight)
Ricky Turcios vs Cameron Smotherman (Bantamweight)
Adam Fugitt vs Ty Miller (Welterweight)
Umar Nurmagomedov: Elite contender looking to remind the division of his championship level
Umar Nurmagomedov (19-1-0) enters the featured prelim of UFC 324 with unfinished business and something to prove. Long viewed as a future bantamweight champion, the Russian standout arrived in the UFC in 2021 carrying enormous expectations, backed by elite wrestling, suffocating grappling, and steadily improving striking. For several years, however, he was held in neutral, matched against mid-tier opposition despite consistently dominant performances. Wins over Raoni Barcelos and Bekzat Almakhan reinforced his status as a clear contender, but it was his five-round masterclass against Cory Sandhagen in 2024 that confirmed he belonged among the elite.
That performance earned Nurmagomedov a title shot against Merab Dvalishvili in early 2025. While he showed flashes of brilliance, scrambling effectively and matching Dvalishvili for long stretches, he ultimately became the latest victim of the champion’s relentless pace. Importantly, Nurmagomedov rebounded well, returning later in the year to outwork and outscramble Mario Bautista in a high-level bout that reaffirmed his position near the top of the division. Still just 29 years old, Nurmagomedov remains one of the most complete fighters at 135 pounds, combining size, technical wrestling and increasingly confident striking. With Petr Yan now back on top, Nurmagomedov knows that a dominant, eye-catching performance here is essential to push himself back into immediate title contention.
Deiveson Figueiredo: Former flyweight king testing his limits at bantamweight
Deiveson “Deus da Guerra” Figueiredo (25-5-1) steps into this bout as a two-time former flyweight champion and one of the most violent finishers the lower weight classes have ever seen. At his peak, Figueiredo was a wrecking ball at 125 pounds, flattening Joseph Benavidez twice, stopping Alex Perez, and engaging in an unforgettable four-fight rivalry with Brandon Moreno that helped define the division. His power, explosiveness, and finishing instincts were rare for a flyweight, but the brutal weight cuts eventually pushed him to seek longevity at bantamweight.
Since moving up, Figueiredo has proven he can still compete at a high level. Wins over Rob Font, Cody Garbrandt, Marlon Vera, and Montel Jackson demonstrated that his power translates at 135, even if his output has dipped in his late 30s. However, losses to Cory Sandhagen and Petr Yan highlighted the growing gap between him and the very top of the division. In recent outings, Figueiredo has leaned more heavily on wrestling as a safety net, often slowing fights down rather than overwhelming opponents. Against Nurmagomedov, that fallback is way less reliable, as he faces one of the strongest and most technical grapplers he has ever encountered.
Umar Nurmagomedov vs Deiveson Figueiredo prediction
This matchup is as much about message-sending as it is about winning. Nurmagomedov cannot afford a quiet decision on the prelims if he wants to reclaim his place at the front of the title queue. Stylistically, he holds clear advantages: he is the bigger athlete, the more active fighter, and the superior wrestler and grappler. His striking has also matured to the point where he can safely close distance, force reactions, and chain takedowns together without overcommitting.
Figueiredo’s path to victory relies on capitalising on rare defensive lapses or catching Nurmagomedov during transitions, but those opportunities are limited against a fighter who thrives in scrambles and positional control. Over time, Nurmagomedov’s pressure, pace, and grappling dominance should wear the former champion down. Expect Umar to push aggressively, mix his striking into level changes, and hunt for a finish to reassert his status.
Prediction: Umar Nurmagomedov to win inside the distance
