Assuncao vs Rivera set for UFC 170

Raphael Assuncao vs. Francisco Rivera added to UFC 170

by John Haigh @JohnBJayHaigh

On Wednesday UFC officials announced a bantamweight bout between Raphael Assuncao and Francisco Rivera at UFC 170 in Las Vegas on 22nd February.

Assuncao (21-4) appeared on his last legs in the UFC at featherweight, having lost three of his last four fights at 145 pounds before moving down to bantamweight. He is currently undefeated since dropping to 135 pounds, winning five consecutive fights and making an impact on the division’s Top 5.

Rivera (10-2, 1 NC) is unbeaten in his last six trips to the Octagon, although one of those fights ended in a no contest. Rivera had initially scored a knockout victory over Roland Delorme, but tested positive for a banned substance in the post-fight drug tests, thus the fight’s result was changed to a no contest. He has since won back-to-back fights over Edwin Figueroa and George Roop.

A win could see Raphael Assuncao continue to climb further into the top five whole a victory for Francisco Rivera could see him break into the top ten.

UFC 170 is headlined by a five-round, non-title fight main event with former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans welcoming Daniel Cormier to the light heavyweight division.

TJ Dillashaw steps in again this time at UFC on Fox 7

Francisco Rivera injured, replaced by TJ Dillashaw who now meets Hugo Viana at UFC on Fox 7

By Ben Heather @benheather

For the third time this week a fighter who fought and won at UFC 158 will step in as an injury replacement on the UFC on Fox 7 card. Its only a five weeks turnaround between UFC 158 and the UFC on FOX 7 event. However for TJ Dillashaw (7-1 MMA 3-1 UFC) this is becoming a usual length for a fight camp. For the second fight in a row Dillashaw is stepping in as a short notice injury replacement for Francisco Rivera (9-2 MMA 2-0 UFC) to fight Hugo Viana (7-0 MMA 2-0 UFC).

UFC officials announced on Friday that Rivera was injured and the new match up had been made.

Dillashaw will be hoping he can emulate his performance from UFC 158 where he knocked out Issei Tamura in the second round. That win made it three in a row since his only loss of his career to John Dodson in the final of The Ultimate Fighter Season 14.

Viana who is still unbeaten in his professional MMA career made his way to the UFC through the Ultimate Fighter Brazil where he was a semi finalist. He picked up a split decision victory over John Teixeria before dropping to bantamweight to fight Reuben Duran at the TUF 16 finale. In this fight he picked up his first stoppage victory of his career by knocking out Duran.

This fight will make up part of the prelims for the UFC on Fox 7 event which is headlined by the lightweight title fight between champion Benson Henderson and challenger Gilbert Melendez. UFC on Fox 7 takes place on April 20th at the HP Pavilion in San Jose.

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