While all eyes may be on the main card fight between Aldo and Holloway, there are some other bouts at UFC 212 in Rio on June 3, 2017 that are sure to see some sparks fly. This includes the bantamweight bout between Marlon Moraes who makes his debut in the Octagon and Raphael Assuncao.
34 year old Assuncao (8-1) has done well since 2011 and has lost only to T.J. Dillashaw in their UFC 200 rematch in 2011. On the other hand Moraes is a well known figure who has spent plenty of time in the World Series of Fighting where he scored a clean 11-0 and was the bantamweight champion. This match will bring him right in the firing line since Assuncao is well experienced in UFC and has a well rounded game. His average strikes per minute stands at 3.37, which may not seem too impressive but he does have the potential to outsmart Moraes on several counts despite Moraes’ leg kicks.
Moraes’ says he’s hungry and ready to bring his own Marlon Moraes style and promises to mix it up a bit. While many debutants have thought that way they haven’t really been able to get the better of any of the UFC veterans. Pacing is going to play a major role in this bout and we could see Assuncao frustrate Moraes by slowing the fight down.
This fight could see Assuncao win via decision.