Raphael Assuncao
Age: 35
Nationality: Brazilian
MMA Record: 26-5
UFC Record: 10-2
Notable Wins: TJ Dillashaw, Marlon Moraes, Pedro Munhoz, Aljamain Sterling, Jorge Masvidal
Notable Losses: TJ Dillashaw, Erik Koch, Urijah Faber
Last Fight: KO win over Matthew Lopez
Fighter Profile: One of the most underrated fighters on the UFC roster, Assuncao has carved out an underappreciated career inside the Octagon. He’s looked amazing since moving down to bantamweight, going 10-1 in the UFC with his lone loss coming against the current champion Dillashaw, who he holds a notable win over from a few years earlier. Assuncao is currently on a three-fight win streak and in his last fight he looked amazing when he knocked out Matthew Lopez. He also beat Moraes last year, and even though it was a close decision the fact he got the nod in that fight is super impressve considering what Moraes has been doing as of late. Assuncao is an extremely well-rounded fighter who is good everywhere, and he’s a proven winner. It’s sad he has never got the chance to fight for the bantamweight title, but perhaps with a few stoppage wins he could get that title shot that he craves.
Rob Font
Age: 31
Nationality: American
MMA Record: 15-3
UFC Record: 5-2
Notable Wins: Thomas Almeida, Douglas Silva De Andrade
Notable Losses: John Lineker, Pedro Munhoz
Last Fight: TKO win over Thomas Almeida
Fighter Profile: One of the most powerful knockout artists in the UFC bantamweight division, Font has looked really good for the most part in the UFC as he’s won five fights by stoppage and he has only lost to the best of the best at 135lbs. He has huge power in his hands and feet and on the ground he has some slick submissions as well. He does have some holes in his striking and submission defense but offensively this guy is a beast and he will remain a member of the UFC roster for a long time as he’s one of the most exciting bantamweights in the world. He might not ever contend for the title, but he’s a guy who is so much fun to watch.
Fight Breakdown: As impressive as Font looked in the Almeida fight, I just feel like you can’t pick against Assuncao here. It’s just not smart to bet against him as he pretty much beats everyone in the bantamweight division. Assuncao has looked great as of late and the win over Lopez was arguably the best performance of his career. As good as Font looked against Almeida, he didn’t look good at all against Munhoz, and Assuncao is a guy who will find and expose the holes in Font’s game. Font is durable enough that he should be able to make it the full 15 minutes, but at the end of the fight I think Assuncao goes out there and does what he does, getting his hand raised by decision and inching one step closer to the elusive bantamweight title shot that he still desires.
Prediction: Raphael Assuncao via decision
