UFC 170 Results: Raphael Assuncao Beats Pedro Munhoz 30-27 to go 6-0 in The UFC Bantamweight Division

UFC 170 Results: Raphael Assuncao Beats Pedro Munhoz 30-27 to go 6-0 in The UFC Bantamweight Division
by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

The stakes were high for number 3 ranked Raphael Assuncao going in the the bout with undefeated Pedro Munhoz with a title shot against Renan Barao likely next for the Brazilian with an impressive victory. While Assuncao came through to win the bout 30-27, the former RFA Bantamweight champion Munhoz proved to be a tougher opponent for Assuncao then some may have expect, and showed he why his has been tipped to be a future star in the UFCs Bantamweight Division

Assuncao started the bout landing a couple of hard leg kicks which Munhoz following up with some nice leg kicks of his own. Assuncao connected with a couple a jabs and an overhand right, but the majority of Assuncao's offense is being blocked by Munhoz. looking confident with his striking Assuncao continued to throw punches, with Munhoz only really offering a descent low kick. Assuncao attempted a spinning back kick the mid-section of Munhoz which lands on the fighters arms, and Munhoz attempts a trip but is unsuccessful. KingdomMMA.co.uk scores the round 10-9 Assuncao

The second starts with Munhoz looking to land the leg kick again, which is starting to cause noticeable damage to Assuncao and causes the fighter to switch stance. Assuncao catches a kick from Munhoz who he pushes to the ground. The highly decorated BJJ belt Munhoz immediately attacks the leg of Assuncao looking for a heel-hook but Assuncao is able to spin out to end up on top. Assuncao starts raining down some huge ground and pound on Munhoz but the defeated prospect is able to get back to his feet to the applause of the crowd, which is now starting to fill up nicely since the opening bout. Munhoz press the action but Assuncao is able to get another take down where he pounds away on Munhoz until the bell. KingdomMMA.co.uk scores the round 10-9 Assuncao putting the fighter 20-18 up.

After a lively 2nd round we go into the 3rd, with Assuncao looking to assert control over the fight. Munhoz continued to press forward in the 3rd and is by far the aggressor in this fight, but his striking just isn't on the level of Assuncao. Both men trade for the majority of the round with Assuncao getting the better of the exchanges. The round finishes with Assuncao securing a takedown which should was enough to take the bout 30-27 on all 3 judges score cards.

Raphael Accuncao improves to 6-0 in the bantamweight division which should be enough to set up an all Brazilian title fight with Renao Barao.

What's next for Renan Barao?

A look at the UFC's 135lb division

by Chris Marzella @ChrisMarzella

If you didn't already know, Renan Barao is one of the very best mixed martial artists on the planet.

Despite the very much controversial conclusion to his first UFC bantamweight title defence at UFC 169 against the always game Urijah Faber, all that really happened was Barao chalked off yet another contender for his crown, again.

Barao spent so much time as the interim champion, knocking off the top contenders in the absence of Dominick Cruz, that as champion now he has already defeated many of the top contenders.

Take a second and think who is next in line for a crack at the exhilarating Brazilian. Michael McDonald? Been there, done that. Eddie Wineland? Same. Faber? Again?

The problem is, Barao was too good for everyone before he was the champion. How likely is that to change now that he is the undisputed bantamweight champion?

The rankings are always a good place to start when considering future contenders. From the list of guys not already humbled by Barao we have Raphael Assuncao, Urijah Faber's stablemate TJ Dillashaw and of course former champion Dominick Cruz.

From that list the next challenger seems to be fairly obvious.

Dillashaw, despite the ringing endorsement issued by Faber in the aftermath of UFC 169, has already lost to Assuncao back in October at UFC Fight Night 29, so Assuncao should and in all probability will be ahead of him in the line.

All that seems fine and well, apart from the fact there's only one fight everyone wants to see at 135 pounds. The countdown is on until the former champion is healthy again.

The highly anticipated unification match that never quite materialised needs to happen, if not for anything other than to solidify the belief that Barao is the premier bantamweight on the planet.

And with that, there is a problem. When a champion dominates his division, fairly often they defend their title against people who, quite frankly, don't belong in title fights, just look at some of the challengers Anderson Silva faced over the years.

Barao has beaten the top contenders in his division, with the exception of a couple, so the list to choose from if fairly narrow.

The only fight that matters though is with Dominick Cruz. We have been teased with this prospect for the last two years and I'm fairly certain that it is the only fight anyone really wants to see next.

The quicker Cruz gets himself fit the sooner we can see the best possible bantamweight fight on the planet.

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 set to battle Raphael Assuncao in Brazil

Dillashaw vs Assuncao added to UFC on Fox Sports 1 #3

by Tommy Strong @Strong_tea

UFC on Fox Sports 1 #3 has a new fight added to the card, which will see Bantamweights TJ Dillashaw vs Raphael Assuncao face off on September 4th in Brazil.

TJ Dilliashaw (8-1) an ultimate fighter finalist, who's only defeat is at of the hands of John Dodson, who defeated TJ via TKO to win season 14 of TUF. Since that loss, TJ has been undefeated in four fights, taking a decision win over Walel Watson, a submission over England's Vaughan Lee, and knockouts over Issei Tamura, with the latest being TKO victory over Hugo Viana inside the first round. The string of results now leaves TJ officially ranked number 9 in the Bantamweight division.

Raphael Assuncao (20-4) will have home advantage in Brazil when he takes on TJ in September. Since dropping to Bantamweight from Featherweight Assuncao is undefeated in his last four fights. Having lost on his UFC featherweight debut to Erik Koch, which ended in a first round TKO in March 2011 at UFC 134. Assuncao decided to drop the 10lbs and move to Bantamweight which it proving to have been a wise choice. Victories over Johnny Eduardo, Issei Tamura, Mike Easton and more recently a submission victory over Vaughan Lee in June, Assuncao finds himself ranked number 6 in the division and ever nearer being a top contender in the division.

With both men having fought two of the same fighters recently and via the same verdict, it will be interesting to see who is ready to take their career to the next level in the division!

Headlining UFC on Fox Sports 1 #3 main event will see a light heavyweight clash between Ryan Bader vs Glover Teixeira. And the co-main event, will see top Middleweight contenders Yushin Okami vs Ronaldo Souza.