UFC announced Wednesday that Brazilian veteran Raphael Assuncao, currently ranked number four in the UFC 135-pound division, takes on Francisco Rivera at UFC 170 on Feb. 22.
Undefeated since moving down to the bantamweight division, Assuncao (21-4) has beaten five opponents in the weight class, starting with a win over Johny Eduardo on August 2011. The Brazilian has finished Issei Tamura and Vaughan Lee over the past few years, and capped off his run with a decision victory over T.J. Dillashaw in Brazil.
Rivera (10-2, 1 no-contest) is undefeated since he returned to the UFC. The California native returned to the Octagon after a pair of wins at Tachi Palace Fights and enters the cage following back-to-back stoppage wins over George Roop and Edwin Figueroa.
UFC 170 takes place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, and will be headlined by former Strikeforce champion Daniel Cormier, who faces off against former UFC champion Rashad Evans in his light heavyweight debut. Rory MacDonald vs. Demian Maia, Rafael dos Anjos vs. Rustam Khabilov and Mike Pyle vs. TJ Waldburger are also set for the card.