Raphael Assuncao Says Family Warned Him To Not Accept Rematch With Marlon Moraes

MMA

Raphael Assuncao headlined the UFC Fight Night Fortaleza card, suffering a first round submission loss to Marlon Moraes.

A defeated Assuncao claims that family members warned him not to accept a rematch with the former WSOF Bantamweight Champion.

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“Most of my trainers and my family members didn’t want me to accept this fight,” Assuncao told reporters after the event (via MMA Junkie). “Maybe they were right. They had their reasoning being a risky fight, and he beat me. He’s a dangerous guy, and I consider myself a warrior. I think any challenge, I’ll be ready for it. I think looking back now I could have also seen it from the other side and waited for that fight. But we’ll keep moving forward.”

Assuncao and Moraes first met back at UFC 212, with Assuncao picking up a split decision win on that night.

Loss aside, one thing Assuncao knows is that a third fight with Moraes will materialize one day.

“We’re going to have a third fight just like I’m going to fight T.J. (Dillashaw) again one day,” Assuncao said. “I haven’t had much luck in rematches with those guys.”

The bantamweight contender has suffered three losses under the UFC banner and two of them came in rematch fights.

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