Raphael Assuncao vs. Cody Garbrandt Signed For UFC Columbus In March

Mark J. Rebilas - USA TODAY Sports
Cody Garbrandt makes a hometown return this Match at UFC Fight Night Columbus.

A bantamweight pairing between Brazilian all-rounder, Raphael Assuncao and former division champion, Cody 'No Love' Garbrandt, is slated to feature at UFC Fight Night Columbus on March 28th. ESPN staff writer, Brett Okamoto, first broke the news of the pairing this evening.

Former bantamweight champion Garbrandt, has lost his last three Octagon outings, losing twice to arch-nemesis and former Team Alpha MMA teammate, T.J. Dillashaw, before a first round knockout defeat to Pedro Munhoz after both men elected to trade toe-to-toe in the dying embers of the first frame. Recife born Assuncao travel's to Garbrandt's home city of Ohio, attempting himself to rebound from two straight losses. The one-time title hopeful has dropped defeats to UFC 245 feature Marlon Moraes, and UFC Fight Night Raleigh feature, Cory Sandhagen in the last year, which ended his four fight win streak.

Garbrandt shot to stardom in 2016, as he snatched the bantamweight crown from Dominick Cruz is a highly impressive counter striking showcase, on his way to a unanimous decision victory. With an eye-catching Octagon record of 10-4, Assuncao has failed to ever earn a title tilt inside the Octagon, falling short against both the aforementioned Dillashaw and Moraes in rematches in 2016 and 2019 respectively.

UFC Fight Night Columbus is expected to be headlined by an exciting heavyweight showdown between heavy-hitters, Francis Ngannou and Jairzinho Rozenstruik, with Assuncao and Garbrandt expected to feature in the co-main event.

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