A new pair of bouts are set for UFC’s return to Brazil in 2014.
Charles Oliveira will fight for the first time in his native country since signing with the UFC. “Do Bronx” will fight British featherweight Andy Ogle at UFC Fight Night 36 in Jaragua do Sul, Brazil, on Feb. 15, the promotion recently announced. Francisco “Massaranduba” Trinaldo and Jesse Ronson are also set to compete on the card, MMAFighting.com confirmed following a report from Tatame.
Oliveira (14-4, 1 no-contest) enters the cage coming off back-to-back losses to Frankie Edgar and Cub Swanson. The jiu-jitsu specialist, who scored wins over “The Ultimate Fighter” winners Jonathan Brookins and Efrain Escudero during his 4-4 (with 1 no-contest) run in the promotion hasn’t won a fight since June 2012. Oliveira was expected to face Jeremy Larsen, who was replacing Estevan Payan at UFC 166, but was forced off the card with an injury.
Like Cristiano Marcello and Joe Proctor, who are set to compete at UFN 36, Ogle (9-3) is another TUF 15 contestant who will fight on Brazil’s first UFC card of 2014. Forced out of a fight with Conor McGregor last August due to an injury, Ogle lost to Cole Miller at UFC Fight Night 30 in Manchester, England, and he’ll look to win his second fight in four bouts under the UFC banner.
“Massaranduba” (13-3), a TUF: Brazil contestant in the middleweight division, looks to return to the win column after a submission loss to Piotr Hallmann at UFC Fight Night 28. Prior to that bout, the lightweight was coming off submission victories over Mike Rio and C.J. Keith.
Ronson, who holds an identical 13-3 record in MMA, made his UFC debut last September after eight consecutive victories, with five finishes, but suffered a decision loss to Michel dos Prazeres at UFC 165.
A middleweight contest between Lyoto Machida and Gegard Mousasi headlines the card at the Arena Jaragua, and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza meets Francis Carmont in the co-main event.