Former TUF Brasil 1, Leonardo Macarrão signs contract and returns to UFC

Macarrão (right) is back in the UFC. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

Leonardo Macarrão is back in the UFC. The fighter, who participated in the first season of TUF Brasil in 2012, signed a new contract with the largest MMA organization in the world. The announcement was made by Ultimate this Tuesday (17).

His first fight has also been confirmed. Macarrão will participate in UFC Fight Night to be held in Atlantic City, New Jersey (USA), on July 16, against the tough Rick Story. Originally, Story was going to face John Howard, but his opponent suffered an injury. The main fight of the night will be between lightweights Donald Cerrone e Jim Miller.

No reality show, Macarrão was part of the Wanderlei Silva and competed in the middleweight category. Inside the house, he was eliminated in the first round, losing by submission to Cezar Mutant – who would later become champion.

Macarrão participated in UFC 147, in Belo Horizonte, but suffered another defeat – this time to Thiago Bodão, by technical knockout in the third round. Outside the UFC, he had five more fights, winning five victories, all of them by knockout or technical knockout.

Story is going through a moment of instability in the UFC. Since 2011, the North American has been alternating victories and defeats, and in his last fight, he was defeated by Kelvin Gastelum in the judges' decision.

Mike Tyson fires back at criticism about age and sends a message to Jake Paul: 'I like…'