Breaking: Per multiple sources, UFC close to finalizing a rematch between Raphael Assuncao and Marlon Moraes to headline UFC Fight Night on Feb. 2 in Fortaleza, Brazil. Full story coming to @ESPN shortly. pic.twitter.com/IfeOyAJiJC
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) November 29, 2018
It appears Raphael Assuncao and Marlon Moraes are going to run it back in a five-rounder to headline an Ultimate Fighting Championship event in Brazil this coming February.
According to Brett Okamoto of ESPN, Raphael Assuncao (27-5) will be facing Marlon Moraes (21-5-1) in the main event at UFC Fight Night 144 in Fortaleza, Brazil, on Feb. 2.
Assuncao currently rides a four-fight win streak with wins over Moraes, Aljamain Sterling and Rob Font along the way. Despite a record of 11-2 with the promotion, Assuncao has never received that elusive title shot, with his lone loss across his last 12 fights coming against current champion T.J. Dillashaw. Once fighting as high as lightweight, he holds wins early in his career over UFC standouts Jorge Masvidal and Joe Lauzon.
Facing him will be the former World Series of Fighting bantamweight champion Moraes, who defended that belt five times before signing with the UFC in 2017. Making his Octagon debut against Assuncao, he lost by controversial split decision, where 16 of 17 media scores awarded the fight to Moraes. The loss was Moraes’ only defeat since 2011, breaking a 13-fight win streak. Since the loss, Moraes edged John Dodson on the scorecards, and then starched Sterling and Jimmie Rivera in a combined 100 seconds to earn himself back-to-back “Performance of the Night” bonuses.
UFC Fight Night 144, also known as UFC on ESPN+ 2, will take place in Fortaleza, Brazil, on Feb. 2. The promotion is also currently targeting a welterweight matchup of Thiago Alves vs. Max Griffin.