Júnior Assunção

Júnior Assunção
BornCleuder Ferreira Assunção Júnior
(1981-06-24) 24 June 1981 (age 43)
Recife, Brazil
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight143.1 lb (64.9 kg; 10.22 st)
DivisionWelterweight
Lightweight
Featherweight
Reach71 in (180 cm)[1]
Fighting out ofAtlanta, Georgia, United States
TeamAscension MMA
RankBlack belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Black rope in Capoeira
Years active2004-2018
Mixed martial arts record
Total23
Wins16
By knockout4
By submission7
By decision5
Losses7
By knockout1
By submission2
By decision4
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Cleuder Ferreira Assunção Júnior (born 24 June 1981), known as simply Júnior Assunção, is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who formerly competed in the Lightweight division. A professional competitor since 2004, he has competed for the UFC, the Xtreme Fighting Championships, and King of the Cage.

Biography

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Originally from Northeastern Brazil, Junior grew up in Miami, and now resides in Atlanta. He is also the older brother of Raphael Assunção and Freddy Assunção who also fight as mixed martial artists.

Mixed martial arts career

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Junior Assuncāo has earned black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Capoeira. His professional MMA career has led to extensive training in these disciplines as well as in Boxing, Judo, Muay Thai, and Wrestling. He has trained out of Black House (Casa Preta) gym in Brazil with the likes of MMA powerhouses Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida.

Junior's martial arts foundation is in Capoeira, a Brazilian fight system characterized by acrobatic sweeps, kicks, and head butts that rely heavily on core strength. Having trained under Mestre Delei for 12 years, Junior credits his success in the combat sports to this discipline. As an instructor, Junior incorporates many techniques from Capoeira, such as agility, balance, and practical strength.

Amateur career

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Assunção holds an undefeated 2–0 record as an amateur, and made his debut on 17 May 2003, facing Scotty Johnson at ISCF: May Madness in Midtown. He won the fight via second round armbar.[2] In his next amateur fight, Assunção faced Brendan Dumont at Submission Fighting Open 10 on 6 February 2004. He won the fight via guillotine choke, and would officially turn pro in April 2004.[3]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

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With a 4–1 record, Assunção signed with the UFC in late 2006. Assunção faced rising star Kurt Pellegrino at UFC 64 on 14 October 2006. He lost the fight via rear-naked choke.[4] In his next fight in the promotion, Assunção faced David Lee at UFC 70 on 21 April 2007.[5] He won the fight via rear-naked choke.

Assunção then faced Nate Diaz at UFC Fight Night 11 on 19 September 2007.[6] He lost the fight via guillotine choke, and was subsequently released from the promotion

Xtreme Fighting Championships

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After posting a 4–1 on the regional circuit, Assunção signed with Florida based promotion Xtreme Fighting Championships. He faced John Mahlow for the XFC Lightweight Championship at XFC 10: Night of Champions on 19 March 2010.[7] He won the fight via guillotine choke, and vacated the championship to drop down in weight class and re-sign with the UFC.

Return to UFC

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In 2011, Assunção re-signed with the UFC. He faced promotional newcomer Eddie Yagin in a featherweight bout on 24 September 2011 at UFC 135. Assunção went on to win the fight by unanimous decision.[8]

Assunção faced Ross Pearson on 30 December 2011 at UFC 141.[9] He lost the fight via unanimous decision and was subsequently released from the promotion.[10]

Post-UFC career

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Following his second release from UFC, Assunção faced Guilherme Faria for the PFC Featherweight Championship at PFC 2 on 13 September 2013. He won the fight via kimura.[11]

Assunção faced Alejandro Rodriguez at XFC International 5 on 7 June 2014. He won the fight via unanimous decision.[12]

Championships and accomplishments

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Mixed martial arts

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Mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
23 matches 16 wins 7 losses
By knockout 4 1
By submission 7 2
By decision 5 4
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 16–7 Arman Tsarukyan Decision (unanimous) MFP 220: Mayor's Cup 2018 26 May 2018 3 5:00 Khabarovsk, Russia Lightweight bout.
Loss 16–6 Adam Townsend TKO (knee injury) Art of War 18 30 July 2016 1 0:49 Beijing, China Welterweight debut.
Win 16–5 Mauricio dos Santos Jr. TKO (head kick) XFC International 13 5 December 2015 2 3:51 São Paulo, Brazil
Win 15–5 Alejandro Solano Rodriguez Decision (unanimous) XFC International 5 7 June 2014 5 5:00 Osasco, São Paulo, Brazil
Win 14–5 Guilherme Faria de Souza Submission (kimura) Premium FC 2 13 September 2013 4 2:05 Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil Won the PFC Featherweight Championship.[13]
Loss 13–5 Ross Pearson Decision (unanimous) UFC 141 30 December 2011 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 13–4 Eddie Yagin Decision (unanimous) UFC 135 24 September 2011 3 5:00 Denver, Colorado, United States
Win 12–4 Wesley Murch Submission (rear-naked choke) Recife FC 4 31 March 2011 1 5:00 Recife, Brazil
Win 11–4 Mark Miller KO (punch) Recife FC 3 3 December 2010 1 4:03 Recife, Brazil
Win 10–4 John Mahlow Submission (guillotine choke) XFC 10: Night of Champions 19 March 2010 1 4:02 Tampa, Florida, United States Won vacant XFC Lightweight Championship.
Win 9–4 Peter Grimes Decision (split) ShineFights 2 4 September 2009 3 5:00 Miami, Florida, United States
Win 8–4 Kamrin Naville Decision (unanimous) KOTC: Invincible 27 March 2009 3 3:00 Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Win 7–4 Kalvin Hackney Decision (unanimous) Wild Bill's Fight Night 17 8 Nov 2008 3 5:00 Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Loss 6–4 Torrance Taylor Decision (unanimous) American Fight League: Bulletproof 30 May 2008 3 5:00 Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Win 6–3 Steve Sharp Submission (guillotine choke) American Fight League: Erupption 7 March 2008 3 4:26 Lexington, Kentucky, United States
Loss 5–3 Nate Diaz Submission (guillotine choke) UFC Fight Night 11 19 September 2007 1 4:10 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 5–2 David Lee Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 70 21 April 2007 2 1:55 Manchester, England
Loss 4–2 Kurt Pellegrino Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 64: Unstoppable 14 October 2006 1 2:04 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 4–1 Scott Hope TKO (punches) International Sport Combat Federation: Knuckle Up 4 28 April 2006 1 1:43 Kennesaw, Georgia, United States
Win 3–1 Dustin Hazelett TKO (punches) Full Throttle 3 15 July 2005 1 4:27 Georgia, United States
Win 2–1 Danny Payne Submission (rear-naked choke) Full Throttle 2 3 June 2005 1 0:50 Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Win 1–1 Will Bradford Submission (guillotine choke) International Sport Combat Federation: Compound Fracture 2 4 February 2005 1 1:55 Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Loss 0–1 Andrew Chappelle Decision (unanimous) International Sport Combat Federation: Fight Party 23 April 2004 3 3:00 Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Amateur mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
2 matches 2 wins 0 losses
By knockout 0 0
By submission 2 0
By decision 0 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 2–0 Brendan Dumont Submission (guillotine choke) International Sport Combat Federation: Submission Fighting Open 10 6 February 2004 1 N/A Macon, Georgia, United States
Win 1–0 Scotty Johnson Submission (armbar) International Sport Combat Federation: May Madness 17 May 2003 2 N/A Atlanta, Georgia, United States

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Tapology.com Staff. "Junior Assuncao's Official Tapology Profile". tapology.com. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  2. ^ Staff. "International Sport Combat Federation: May Madness in Midtown Official Results". mixedmartialarts.com. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  3. ^ Staff. "Submission Fighting Open 10 Official Results". mixedmartialarts.com. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  4. ^ Staff. "UFC 64: Kurt "Batman" Pellegrino vs. Junior Assuncao". tapology.com. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  5. ^ MMAJunkie.com Staff (14 March 2007). "UFC 70 Fight Card Finalized with 10 Bouts". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  6. ^ MMAJunkie.com Staff (19 July 2007). "Diaz's Camp Confirms Nate Diaz vs. Junior Assuncao Bout". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  7. ^ Keith Mills. "Junior Assuncao fights John Mahlow, Jason Woods faces Jarrod Card for XFC titles Friday on HDNet". adcombat.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  8. ^ Stupp, Dann. "UFC 135 preliminary-card results: Ferguson breaks Riley's jaw, Boetsch cruises". MMAJunkie.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  9. ^ "Twitter Exchange Helps Make Junior Assuncao vs. Ross Pearson at UFC 141". mmaweekly.com. 31 October 2011.
  10. ^ Dana Becker (23 January 2012). "UFC Cuts Junior Assuncao After Loss To Ross Pearson". fightline.com.
  11. ^ Staff. "Premium FC 2: Junior Assuncao vs. Guilherme Faria". tapology.com. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  12. ^ Guilherme Cruz (8 June 2014). "XFCi results, videos: Four tournament winners crowned in Brazil". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  13. ^ Staff. "Premium Fight Championship 2 Official Results". mixedmartialarts.com. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
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