Júnior Assunção

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

Júnior Assunção
Born (1981-06-24) June 24, 1981
Recife, Brazil
NationalityBrazilian
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

Biography

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

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

Assunção holds an undefeated 2–0 record as an amateur, and made his debut on May 17, 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 February 6, 2004. He won the fight via guillotine choke, and would officially turn pro in April 2004.[3]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

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

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

Xtreme Fighting Championships

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 March 19, 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

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

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

Post-UFC career

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

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

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

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

Amateur mixed martial arts record

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 February 6, 2004 1 N/A Macon, Georgia, United States
Win 1–0 Scotty Johnson Submission (armbar) International Sport Combat Federation: May Madness May 17, 2003 2 N/A Atlanta, Georgia, United States

References

  1. Tapology.com Staff. "Junior Assuncao's Official Tapology Profile". tapology.com. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  2. Staff. "International Sport Combat Federation: May Madness in Midtown Official Results". mixedmartialarts.com. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  3. Staff. "Submission Fighting Open 10 Official Results". mixedmartialarts.com. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  4. Staff. "UFC 64: Kurt "Batman" Pellegrino vs. Junior Assuncao". tapology.com. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  5. MMAJunkie.com Staff. "UFC 70 Fight Card Finalized with 10 Bouts". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  6. MMAJunkie.com Staff. "Diaz's Camp Confirms Nate Diaz vs. Junior Assuncao Bout". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved July 14, 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 July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 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. October 31, 2011.
  10. Dana Becker (January 23, 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 July 14, 2014.
  12. Guilherme Cruz. "XFCi results, videos: Four tournament winners crowned in Brazil". mmafighting.com. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  13. Staff. "Premium Fight Championship 2 Official Results". mixedmartialarts.com. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
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