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 | June 24, 1981 Recife, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight | 143.1 lb (64.9 kg; 10.22 st) |
| Division | Welterweight Lightweight Featherweight |
| Reach | 71 in (180 cm)[1] |
| Fighting out of | Atlanta, Georgia, United States |
| Team | Ascension MMA |
| Rank | Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black rope in Capoeira |
| Years active | 2004-2018 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 23 |
| Wins | 16 |
| By knockout | 4 |
| By submission | 7 |
| By decision | 5 |
| Losses | 7 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 2 |
| By decision | 4 |
| 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
- Xtreme Fighting Championships
- XFC Lightweight Championship (One time)
- Premium Fight Championship
- PFC Featherweight Championship (One time, current)
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
- Tapology.com Staff. "Junior Assuncao's Official Tapology Profile". tapology.com. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- Staff. "International Sport Combat Federation: May Madness in Midtown Official Results". mixedmartialarts.com. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- Staff. "Submission Fighting Open 10 Official Results". mixedmartialarts.com. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- Staff. "UFC 64: Kurt "Batman" Pellegrino vs. Junior Assuncao". tapology.com. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- MMAJunkie.com Staff. "UFC 70 Fight Card Finalized with 10 Bouts". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- MMAJunkie.com Staff. "Diaz's Camp Confirms Nate Diaz vs. Junior Assuncao Bout". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- 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.
- 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.
- "Twitter Exchange Helps Make Junior Assuncao vs. Ross Pearson at UFC 141". mmaweekly.com. October 31, 2011.
- Dana Becker (January 23, 2012). "UFC Cuts Junior Assuncao After Loss To Ross Pearson". fightline.com.
- Staff. "Premium FC 2: Junior Assuncao vs. Guilherme Faria". tapology.com. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- Guilherme Cruz. "XFCi results, videos: Four tournament winners crowned in Brazil". mmafighting.com. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- Staff. "Premium Fight Championship 2 Official Results". mixedmartialarts.com. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
