The UFC will be back in Brazil for UFC Fight Night 62 on March 21st, at the Marcanazinho Gymnasium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The main event will see at Bantamweight, Urijah Faber (32-7) vs. Raphael Assuncao (23-4). These men are no strangers having met at WEC 46, as Featherweights, in a bout that saw Faber come out victorious with a 3rd round rear naked choke. Faber has won 6 of his 7 fights. Most recently Faber submitted Francisco Rivera at UFC 181, in a finish that had some controversy due to a Faber eye poke. Assuncao has won 7 in a row including a split decision win over current Bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw.
At Welterweight Demian Maia (19-6) faces Ryan LaFlare (11-0). Maia is 4-2 since moving down from 185 lbs. and is coming off a unanimous decision win over Alexander Yakovlev, that ended a 2 fight skid. LaFlare is 4-0 in the UFC with decision wins over Ben Alloway, Dantiago Ponzinibbio, Court McGee, and John Howard.
At Lightweight former Strikeforce champion Josh Thomson (20-7) collides with undefeated Blackzilians member Gilbert Burns (9-0). Thomson is 1-3 in his last 4 with the 3 losses coming by split decision to Gilbert Melendez, Benson Henderson, and Bobby Green. Thomson last win came in April of 2013, scoring a TKO of Nate Diaz. Burns is 2-0 in the octagon with a decision win over Andreas Stahl and a armbar of Christos Giagos.
Brazil’s own Erick Silva (17-5) is going to square off with Ben “Kill-B” Saunders (18-6-2). Silva is 5-4 in the UFC alternating wins and losses. Silva most recently submitted Mike Rhodes in under a minute and a half. Saunders is 2-0 so far in his second run in the UFC. In his return to the octagon Saunders scored the first ever win by Omoplata in the UFC’s histpory; submitting Chris Heatherly at UFC Fight Night “Henderson vs. Dos Anjos”. Saunders followed that up with a TKO due to injury win over Joe Riggs at UFC on Fox 13.
Also on the card Matt Wiman (16-7) clashes with Leonardo Santos (13-3-1), Cain Carrizosa (6-1) faces Leonardo Mafra Texeira (11-2), and Drew Dober (15-6) takes on Leanardo Silva (17-2-1).
