Yuri Alcantara – image via UFC.com
A couple of bouts appear to be in the works for the Ultimate Fighting Championships next trip to Brazil, which is expected for January 19, 2013 in an unnamed city.
Yuri Alcantara (27-4) is dropping from featherweight to the bantamweight division where he will take on Johnny Eduardo (26-9), while featherweights Godofredo ‘Pepey’ Castro (8-1) and Milton ‘Miltinho’ Vieira (13-7-2) also appear set.
News of the matchup was announced by Brazilian news site Tatame late last night.
Officials with the promotion have yet to confirm the two matchups or the event.
Alcantara dropped down to featherweight for his UFC debut in August 2011 and has gone 2-1 since then. His last fight ended in a decision loss to Hacran Dias last June at UFC 147. The defeat ended a thirteen fight win streak for the Brazilian fighter.
Eduardo is 1-1 in the UFC, having lost to Jeff Curran by decision at UFC on FUEL TV 3 this past May. Eduardo debuted in August 2011 at UFC 134 in Brazil, losing to Raphael Assuncao by decision. That defeat ended a run of eleven straight wins.
Castro will look for his first Octagon win after debuting with a loss last June at UFC 147 versus RRony Mariano Bezerra in the featherweight final for TUF Brazil. Castro was a member of Team Vitor on the first international tough series. The defeat was the first of his career.
Vieira is undefeated in his last four fights, having fought to a draw in his Octagon debut at UFC 147 in June versus Felipe Arantes. Previous to that matchup Vieira earned a win under the Strikeforce banner in August 2011, submitting Sterling Ford at a Challengers event.