Assunção and TJ have already faced each other twice (Photo: Reproduction/Youtube UFC)
The brutal knockout over Matthew Lopez in UFC Norfolk, held last Saturday (11), left Raphael Assunção on the rise in the rooster category (up to 61kg). With three consecutive victories, all in 2017, the Brazilian feels ready to challenge for the division belt, which is currently in the possession of TJ Dillashaw, whom Assunção has already faced on two occasions, with a 50% success rate.
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“I'm 10-1 in the division, my only loss was to the current champion, so I want the trilogy. TJ Dillashaw, the challenge is done. I'm not the most talkative guy, but I think I deserve it. (…) There are a lot of new guys in the bantamweight division. Here I am, the veteran, making a statement and being humble. See if I get a title shot. My only defeat at bantamweight was to TJ Dillashaw. I have a victory over him. Let's do the trilogy. The first fight was close. On Monday, I faced him after 16 months of inactivity. We fought and he hit me. Now, he has become the champion again. I know his game and I can use different parts of my arsenal of strikes”, declared Raphael in an interview with UFC, shortly after the recent triumph.
Assunção and Dillashaw faced each other for the first time in October 2013, when the Brazilian prevailed in a split decision from the judges. Almost three years later, in July 2016, TJ got revenge at UFC 200, also winning on points.
In Ultimate since 2011, Raphael Assunção he debuted by being knocked out by Erick Coch, in the featherweight division (up to 66kg). The negative result made him move to the bantamweight division, where he won seven consecutive victories, until losing to the current champion. In total, there are 10 triumphs and only two setbacks for the organization.
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