Diego Ferreira Believes The Best Version Of Himself Is Back

For Diego Ferreira, this training camp wasn’t about reinventing himself. It was about getting back to doing the things that made him one of the longer tenured lightweights in the division.

After two fights that didn’t go his way, the 19-7 Brazilian knows exactly where he believes things went wrong. Now, with a full eight-week camp behind him, Ferreira enters his showdown with Billy Quarantillo convinced that the mistakes of the past won’t follow him into the Octagon.

“It’s more because I made mistakes,” Ferreira said. “I didn’t train the way I was supposed to. One fight I took on short notice, and I was in a rush to get back. This one, I prepared myself. I put more time in.”

That extra preparation has changed more than just his conditioning.

A move to Melissa, Texas, has eliminated the exhausting nine-hour drive he once made from McAllen, Texas, to train. Allowing him to spend more time sharpening his skills instead of recovering from long hours on the road.

“I put more time in the gym now and worked on the things I need to work on,” Ferreira said. “I don’t have to drive nine hours anymore. That took a lot out of my body.”

The result is a veteran who believes he’s entering fight week fresher, smarter and more focused than he has been in recent years.

Standing across from him is Quarantillo, who returns after a two-year break and makes the move from featherweight to lightweight. Ferreira expects the longtime 145-pound contender to bring the same relentless pressure that has defined his career, but he also believes the jump to 155 pounds comes with questions that only fight night can answer.

“He’s the type of guy who likes to get hit and keep moving forward,” Ferreira said. “I don’t think he’s been hit by a real 155-pound fighter yet. I want to give him that feeling because it’s a different weight class.”

Ferreira expects Quarantillo to test him early, believing the younger fighter may view him as a slowing veteran nearing his 42nd birthday.

“I think he’s thinking I’m slow because I’m older,” Ferreira said. “But I trained the right way and with the right people.”

Rather than spending camp with larger training partners, Ferreira worked extensively with faster, lighter fighters to sharpen his reactions and force himself to match a higher pace.

“I trained with the bantamweights, the 135-pound guys,” Ferreira said. “I know how fast they are. Before, I trained with bigger guys. Now I think that’s going to help me.”

Despite the stylistic chess match he expects, Ferreira isn’t interested in turning the fight into a cautious affair. He embraces the type of contest where both men stand their ground to force the action.

“I like to meet up in the middle and see who’s going to be the toughest,” Ferreira said. “I enjoy fights like that.”

Still, he believes composure will ultimately decide who has their hand raised.

“I think it’s going to be who is the most patient,” Ferreira said. “Who’s the most intelligent in those situations. I have to take my time, be present in the moment and enjoy it.”

That mindset has only fueled the hunger Ferreira still carries after nearly a decade in the UFC. The goal isn’t simply to return to the win column. It’s to remind everyone that he remains a dangerous finisher capable of stealing the show.

“I’ve got that fire in my chest,” Ferreira said. “I want fight of the night or submission of the night. I want to do the best I can. I’m hungry to get back there.

Don't miss a moment of UFC Fight Night: Gamrot vs Salkilld, live from Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 8, 2026. Prelims start at 5pm ET/2pm PT, followed by the main card at 8pm ET/5pm PT. Stream the entire event live on Paramount+.