UFC
Raphael Assuncao vs Urijah Faber reportedly set to headline UFC Fight Night event on March 21 in Rio de Janeiro
Jan 21, 2015 - 7:10:33 PM Raphael Assuncao vs Urijah Faber reportedly set to headline UFC Fight Night event on March 21 in Rio de Janeiro

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Raphael Assuncao seemingly lost a potential fight with T.J. Dillashaw for the UFC Bantamweight Championship when he suffered an injury in training the same day as Dominick Cruz announced his own. However, it appears the UFC wasn't considering him for that fight anyway, as he's returning to the cage a couple of months before Dillashaw fights again.

According to a report from Globo in Brazil, Assuncao and Urijah Faber have verbally agreed to headline the UFC's March 21 Fight Night event in Rio de Janeiro.

Assuncao has won seven straight fights in the UFC's bantamweight division, but now will have to win an eighth over a former foe in order to keep his spot in line.

He and Faber fought at featherweight five years ago at WEC 46, with Faber securing a third round rear naked choke. Faber has won six of his last seven, with the sole loss coming against the man who is getting the next title fight, Renan Barao, on very short notice last February.

The UFC Fight Night event on March 21 is the UFC's second event in Rio in a six moth span, with them returning quickly after last October's UFC 179 pay-per-view.

Penick's Analysis: It's a bit of a raw deal for Assuncao to get passed over for Barao given his seven fight winning streak and the fact that the run includes a win over the Champ. Still, this is a very good bantamweight fight in its own right, and gives him a chance to avenge one of his career losses while keeping busy. It's not fair to him, but this sport rarely is, so he's simply got to continue winning fights to get himself into an overdue title fight.

[Urijah Faber art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]