Raphael Assunção (born 19 July 1982) is a Brazilian retired mixed martial artist, he competed in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
| Raphael Assunção | |
|---|---|
| Born | 19 July 1982 Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)[1] |
| Weight | 135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st) |
| Division | Lightweight (2004–2006) Featherweight (2006–2011) Bantamweight (2011–2023) |
| Reach | 66+1⁄2 in (169 cm)[1] |
| Style | Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Shotokan |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Fighting out of | Alpharetta, Georgia, United States |
| Team | Ascension Mixed Martial Arts |
| Rank | Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[2] |
| Years active | 2004–2023 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 38 |
| Wins | 28 |
| By knockout | 4 |
| By submission | 10 |
| By decision | 14 |
| Losses | 10 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 3 |
| By decision | 4 |
| Notable relatives | Junior Assunção (brother) |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Background
Born in Recife in Northeast Brazil, Assunção moved to United States with his immigrant parents when he was a child.[3] He now lives and trains in Atlanta with Ascension MMA under Manu N'toh. He is also the brother of Júnior Assunção[4] and Freddy Assunção who also fight as mixed martial artists. Assunção has a daughter.
Mixed martial arts career
World Extreme Cagefighting
Assunção joined the WEC in 2009, with a 12–1 professional record. He made his promotional debut on 5 April 2009 at WEC 40 against Jameel Massouh.[5] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[6]
He faced Yves Jabouin on 2 September 2009 at WEC 43.[7] Assunção won the back and forth fight by split decision.[8]
Assunção faced Urijah Faber on 10 January 2010 at WEC 46.[9] Faber won the fight via third-round submission.[10]
Assunção then faced Diego Nunes on 20 June 2010 at WEC 49.[11] He lost the fight via split decision.
Assunção faced LC Davis on 11 November 2010 at WEC 52.[12] Assunção won the fight via unanimous decision.[13]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
On 28 October 2010, World Extreme Cagefighting merged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As part of the merger, all WEC fighters were transferred to the UFC.[14]
Assunção was expected to face Manvel Gamburyan on 19 March 2011 at UFC 128,[15] but Gamburyan was forced out of the bout with a back injury[16] and replaced by Erik Koch.[17] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.[18]
Assunção next faced UFC newcomer Johnny Eduardo on 27 August 2011 at UFC 134.[19] He won the fight via unanimous decision and was out up to 6 months with a possible nasal fracture.[20]
Assunção faced Issei Tamura on 11 July 2012 at UFC on Fuel TV: Munoz vs. Weidman.[21] He won the fight via second-round TKO.[22]
Assunção faced Mike Easton on 8 December 2012, at UFC on Fox 5, replacing an injured Bryan Caraway.[23] He won the fight via unanimous decision despite suffering a broken arm during the first round.[24]
Assunção faced Vaughan Lee on 8 June 2013 at UFC on Fuel TV 10.[25] He won the fight via armbar submission in the second round.[26]
Assunção was expected to face T.J. Dillashaw on 4 September 2013 at UFC Fight Night 28.[27] However, the pairing was delayed and was rescheduled for a future event due to a minor medical issue for Assunção.[28] The bout with Dillashaw was rescheduled and took place on 9 October 2013, at UFC Fight Night 29.[29] Assunção defeated Dillashaw via split decision.[30] The back and forth action earned both the participants Fight of the Night honors.[31]
Assunção was expected to face Francisco Rivera at UFC 170.[32] However, Rivera was forced from the bout due to a hand injury.[33] Assunção instead faced touted UFC newcomer Pedro Munhoz.[34] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[35]
Assunção was briefly linked to a Bantamweight Championship bout against Renan Barão on 24 May 2014 at UFC 173. However, Assunção opted to decline the bout as a rib injury sustained in his last bout at UFC 170 had not healed enough to resume the proper training in advance of the event.[36] Barão instead faced, and was ultimately defeated by T.J. Dillashaw.[37]
Assunção faced Bryan Caraway on 4 October 2014 at UFC Fight Night: MacDonald vs. Saffiedine.[38] He doubled the numbers of strikes Caraway threw and caught him with knees to win a unanimous decision victory.[39]
On 22 December 2014, Assunção announced that he had suffered a broken ankle during training that would not require surgery, but is expected to be sidelined for up to 10 weeks.[40]
A rematch with perennial contender Urijah Faber was expected to headline UFC Fight Night 62 on 21 March 2015.[41] However, Assunção was forced out of the bout as an ankle first injured in mid-December 2014 was slow to heal and that he was unable to resume the proper training to prepare for the fight in that time frame.[42][43] Subsequently, in August 2015, Assunção's management team announced that he would undergo surgery on the ankle and hoped to return by the end of the year.[44]
A rematch with T.J. Dillashaw took place on 9 July 2016 at UFC 200.[45] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[46]
Assunção was expected to face Aljamain Sterling on 9 December 2016 at UFC Fight Night 102.[47] However, Sterling pulled out of the fight on 23 November citing injury.[48] Assunção was subsequently removed from the card.[49] The bout with Sterling was rescheduled and took place on 28 January 2017 at UFC on Fox 23.[50] Assunção won the fight via split decision.[51]
Assunção faced Marlon Moraes on 3 June 2017 at UFC 212.[52] He won the back-and-forth fight by split decision.[53]
Assunção faced Matthew Lopez on 11 November 2017 at UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Pettis.[54] At the weigh-ins, Lopez missed weight, weighing in at 138.5 lbs., three and a half pounds over the Bantamweight limit. As a result, he forfeited 20% of his purse to Assunção and the bout proceeded as Catchweight.[55] He won the fight via knock out in the third round.[56] This win also earned him a Performance of the Night bonus award.[57]
Assunção faced Rob Font on 7 July 2018 at UFC 226.[58] He won via unanimous decision.[59]
Assunção faced Marlon Moraes in a rematch on 2 February 2019 in the main event at UFC Fight Night 144. Assunção won the first fight by split decision at UFC 212 on 3 June 2017.[60] Before accepting the rematch, Assunção negotiated a new contract with the UFC.[61] Assunção lost the rematch in the first round after being dropped by two punches and then submitted via a guillotine choke.[62]
Assunção faced Cory Sandhagen on 17 August 2019 at UFC 241.[63] He lost the bout by unanimous decision.[64]
Assunção was scheduled to face Cody Garbrandt as the co-main event on 28 March 2020 at UFC on ESPN 8.[65] However, Garbrandt pulled out on 12 March due to kidney issues. As of now, Assunção is expected to remain on the card against an unknown opponent.[66] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was eventually postponed.[67] Instead the fight was rescheduled and took place on 6 June 2020 at UFC 250.[68] Assunção lost the bout via second-round knockout.[69]
Assunção was scheduled to face Raoni Barcelos on 27 February 2021 at UFC Fight Night 186.[70] However, Assunção pulled out of the fight in early February after testing positive for COVID-19.[71][72]
Assunção was scheduled to face Kyler Phillips on 24 July 2021 at UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw.[73] However, Assunção suffered a biceps injury in late June and was replaced by Raulian Paiva.[74]
Assunção faced Ricky Simón on 18 December 2021 at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Daukaus.[75] He lost the bout via knockout in the second round.[76]
Assunção faced Victor Henry on October 15, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 212.[77] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[78]
Assunção was scheduled to face Kyler Phillips on March 11, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 221.[79] However, Phillips withdrew from the event for undisclosed reasons, and he was replaced by Davey Grant.[80] He lost the fight via an inverted triangle choke technical submission in the third round, and announced his retirement during the post-fight interview.[81]
Championships and achievements
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night (One time) vs. T.J. Dillashaw
- Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Matthew Lopez[57]
- Fourth most total fight time in UFC Bantamweight division history (3:44:19)[82]
- Tied (Aljamain Sterling) for third most bouts in UFC Bantamweight division history (18)[82]
- Most decision wins in UFC Bantamweight division history (9)
- Tied for second longest win streak in UFC Bantamweight history (7)[82]
- Tied (Takeya Mizugaki & Yves Jabouin) for most split decision wins in UFC Bantamweight division history (3)
Mixed martial arts record
| 38 matches | 28 wins | 10 losses |
| By knockout | 4 | 3 |
| By submission | 10 | 3 |
| By decision | 14 | 4 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 28–10 | Davey Grant | Technical Submission (inverted triangle choke) | UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili | March 11, 2023 | 3 | 4:43 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Grant was deducted 1 point in round 3 for grabbing the fence. |
| Win | 28–9 | Victor Henry | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Araújo | October 15, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 27–9 | Ricky Simón | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Daukaus | December 18, 2021 | 2 | 2:14 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 27–8 | Cody Garbrandt | KO (punch) | UFC 250 | June 6, 2020 | 2 | 4:59 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 27–7 | Cory Sandhagen | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 241 | August 17, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Anaheim, California, United States | |
| Loss | 27–6 | Marlon Moraes | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Assunção vs. Moraes 2 | February 2, 2019 | 1 | 3:17 | Fortaleza, Brazil | |
| Win | 27–5 | Rob Font | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 226 | July 7, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 26–5 | Matthew Lopez | KO (punch) | UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Pettis | November 11, 2017 | 3 | 1:50 | Norfolk, Virginia, United States | Catchweight (138.5 lb) bout; Lopez missed weight. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 25–5 | Marlon Moraes | Decision (split) | UFC 212 | June 3, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 24–5 | Aljamain Sterling | Decision (split) | UFC on Fox: Shevchenko vs. Peña | January 28, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Denver, Colorado, United States | |
| Loss | 23–5 | T.J. Dillashaw | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 200 | July 9, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 23–4 | Bryan Caraway | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: MacDonald vs. Saffiedine | October 4, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada | |
| Win | 22–4 | Pedro Munhoz | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 170 | February 22, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 21–4 | T.J. Dillashaw | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Shields | October 9, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Barueri, Brazil | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 20–4 | Vaughan Lee | Submission (armbar) | UFC on Fuel TV: Nogueira vs. Werdum | June 8, 2013 | 2 | 1:51 | Fortaleza, Brazil | |
| Win | 19–4 | Mike Easton | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Diaz | December 8, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Seattle, Washington, United States | |
| Win | 18–4 | Issei Tamura | TKO (punches) | UFC on Fuel TV: Munoz vs. Weidman | July 11, 2012 | 2 | 0:25 | San Jose, California, United States | |
| Win | 17–4 | Johnny Eduardo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 134 | August 27, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Bantamweight debut. |
| Loss | 16–4 | Erik Koch | KO (punch) | UFC 128 | March 19, 2011 | 1 | 2:32 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 16–3 | LC Davis | Decision (unanimous) | WEC 52 | November 11, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 15–3 | Diego Nunes | Decision (split) | WEC 49 | June 20, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | |
| Loss | 15–2 | Urijah Faber | Submission (rear-naked choke) | WEC 46 | January 10, 2010 | 3 | 3:49 | Sacramento, California, United States | |
| Win | 15–1 | Yves Jabouin | Decision (split) | WEC 43 | October 10, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | San Antonio, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 14–1 | Jameel Massouh | Decision (unanimous) | WEC 40 | April 5, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 13–1 | Joe Pearson | TKO (punches) | IHC 12: Resurrection | November 8, 2008 | 1 | 0:12 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 12–1 | Aaron Williams | Submission (armbar) | AFL: Eruption | March 7, 2008 | 1 | 3:22 | Lexington, Kentucky, United States | |
| Win | 11–1 | Kevin Gittemeir | Decision (unanimous) | ISCF: Head-On Collision | June 1, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | Kennesaw, Georgia, United States | |
| Win | 10–1 | Tyler Grunwald | Submission (triangle choke) | ISCF: Battle of Rome 2 | April 21, 2007 | 1 | 0:56 | Rome, Georgia, United States | |
| Loss | 9–1 | Jeff Curran | Decision (majority) | XFO 13: Operation Beatdown | November 11, 2006 | 3 | 5:00 | Hoffman Estates, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 9–0 | James Birdsley | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Border Warz | October 14, 2006 | 3 | 1:42 | Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 8–0 | Nick Mamalis | Submission (armbar) | ROF 26: Relentless | September 9, 2006 | 1 | 3:35 | Castle Rock, Colorado, United States | Featherweight debut. |
| Win | 7–0 | Joe Lauzon | Submission (armbar) | Absolute Fighting Championships 15 | February 18, 2006 | 2 | 4:37 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | William McGlothlin | Submission (guillotine choke) | Full Throttle 4 | September 9, 2005 | 2 | 3:58 | Duluth, Georgia, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Jorge Masvidal | Decision (unanimous) | Full Throttle 1 | April 21, 2005 | 3 | 5:00 | Duluth, Georgia, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Brandon Bledsoe | Submission (armbar) | ISCF: Compound Fracture 2 | February 4, 2005 | 1 | 2:31 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Chad Lawshe | Submission (guillotine choke) | ISCF: Compound Fracture | October 15, 2004 | 1 | 0:54 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Scott Johnson | Submission (armbar) | ISCF: Anarchy in 2 August | August 7, 2004 | 1 | 2:41 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Chris Clark | TKO (punches) | ISCF: Friday Night Fight | January 23, 2004 | 1 | N/A | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | Lightweight debut. |