Raphael Assuncao: I’m Ready To Be The Underdog And Challenge The Champion
Raphael Assuncao extended his win streak in the UFC bantamweight division to six, as he most recently beat Pedro Munhoz over three rounds at UFC 170. The fight will likely secure Assuncao a shot at champion Renan Barao’s title, especially considering the shallow nature of the division right now.
That being said, the scrap at 170 wasn’t the most exciting showing. Assuncao stopped by with Bleacherreport.com, to discuss the fight against Munhoz:
“I don’t think it was a great performance, but it was another win under my belt, I proved something to myself in that fight. I had been working on a game plan for my original opponent, but that changed, and I had to adjust. We are professionals, and that is what we have to do sometimes.”
“ I just feel it wasn’t my best performance, and there are some holes in my game I want to fix. I was still able to go out there and get the win against a tough opponent. He was on a 10-fight winning streak and comes from a great camp where he trains with guys like Lyoto Machida. It was definitely a different test to get past.”
The BJJ black belt had a lot to lose against the unranked Munhoz, Francisco Rivera dropped out of the scheduled UFC 170 meeting with Assuncao and RA could have easily turned down the replacement in fear of losing his streak to an unknown.
“I just wanted to fight,” he explained in regard to staying on the card. “It wasn’t about money or anything. Yes, this is my job and how I make a living, but I put in a long training camp and wanted to get in there and fight. I wanted to make sure the time I invested in my training was worthwhile. When you put yourself through a three-month training camp, it takes a toll on your body, and I wanted to make it worthwhile.”
“There is no need to campaign for anything because my record speaks for itself,” Assuncao said. “I’m not going to take up an acting class in order to get a fight. That is not what I’ve worked my entire life to do. It’s not what I’ve been living for. I’m ready to be the underdog and challenge the champion. I’m ready to go out there and prove people wrong.”
Whether or not Assuncao has what it takes to beat Barao is another story, but the fact remains that he is the only credible challenger at the top end of the bantamweight category right now. Title shots in the UFC are very hard to come by nowadays, and Assuncao has been building quite an impressive case.
He may have dropped the ball a little, performance wise, against Munhoz at 170, but he picked up a unanimous decision win nonetheless. Unbeaten in four years and at the top of the weight class, surely it is only a matter of time before we see Assuncao vs. Barao.
