Raphael Assunçȃo vs. Cody Garbrandt slated for UFC PPV on June 6th.

Photo Credit: UFC & Jeff Bottari - Zuffa LLC

A re-mapped bantamweight pairing between longtime contender, Raphael Assunçȃo, and former division gold holder, Cody 'No Love' Garbrandt, is expected to feature at a UFC pay-per-view event on June 6th. - as the promotion hold tentative plans to host the card from the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. News of the targeting rebooking was first reported by MMA Fighting writer, Damon Martin.

Assunçȃo and Garbrandt were set to throw-down at UFC Fight Night Columbus on March 28th. - with Garbrandt withdrawing from the bout due to kidney issues sustained during his training camp. The entire card was eventually shelved due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

The UFC event on June 6th. is currently targeted to feature in 'Sin City', however, it's believed the Nevada State Athletic Commission has yet to give the event it's blessing, following it's decision to place a suspension on all combat sports events in the state, as a precautionary measure to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus. 

Submission-specialist, Assunçȃo, will attempt to return to the winner's enclosure when paired with Garbrandt, following a defeat to rising contender, Cory Sandhagen, and a rematch guillotine loss to Marlon Moraes last year. The Pernambuco born contender was apart of the WEC and UFC merger - joining the latter in 2011. The sixteen-year veteran has amassed a professional record of 27-7, with victories coming against the likes of Jorge Masvidal, Joe Lauzon, Johnny Eduardo, Vaughan Lee, Pedro Munhoz, Bryan Caraway - as well as some rather dubious wins over former two-time champion, T.J. Dillashaw, Aljamian Sterling, and the aforementioned Moraes. 

Ohio native, Garbrandt was denied his first career homecoming since 2014 with the shelving of the MArch card, and his troubling kidney issues. The heavy-hitting finisher, like Assunçȃo, looks to reemerge as a division contender, following a series of three straight knockout losses. The 28-year-old exacted a decision clinic against Dominick Cruz to lift bantamweight gold back at UFC 207, before two losses to the previously noted, bitter-rival, Dillashaw, and Munhoz. Garbrandt earned his 2016 title opportunity against Cruz, following two breakout performances against Thomas Almeida, and Takeya Mizugaki.

The Ulrichville native has altered his approach for this now short-notice pairing with Assunçȃo, as he divides his time between longtime home base, Team Alpha MMA in Sacramento, California, and Mark Henry MMA in New Jersey.

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