Would-be bantamweight No. 1 contender Raphael Assuncao gets Bryan Caraway in Halifax
Raphael Assuncao wanted a title shot. He'll have to settle for another top contender.
The would-be UFC bantamweight No. 1 contender will meet Bryan Caraway at UFC Fight Night on Oct. 4 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, the UFC announced Wednesday. The card will air on FOX Sports 1.
Assuncao would have challenged then-champion Renan Barao for the title in May had Assuncao not been injured. Instead, T.J. Dillashaw fought and beat Barao and the two will have a rematch at UFC 177 on Aug. 30.
Assuncao (22-4) already has a victory over Dillashaw, albeit by a very close split decision last October. The Brazilian has not competed since beating Pedro Munhoz by unanimous decision at UFC 170 in February. In total, Assuncao has won six in a row. He's currently ranked No. 3 among bantamweight contenders, behind Barao and Urijah Faber.
Caraway (19-6) is ranked No. 8 after two straight victories, the latest a second-round submission finish of Erik Perez in June. He was criticized in that fight for using a fishhook technique, which he has denied and if it happened it didn't lead to the victory. In all, Caraway, the boyfriend of UFC women's star Miesha Tate, has won five of six.
UFC Fight Night in Halifax is headlined by a welterweight contender bout between Rory MacDonald and Tarec Saffiedine.
