Johnny Eduardo Joins UFC, Debuts Against Assuncao in Rio

Johnny Eduardo, a 15-year MMA veteran, will make his UFC debut in August. | Photo: Marcelo Alonso

Officials from the UFC’s Brazilian branch broke the news Sunday evening via Twitter.

Assuncao was originally rumored to meet Darren Uyenoyama at the event, which goes down Aug. 27 at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. That matchup was reportedly scratched due to Uyenoyama’s unresolved contract issues with Japan’s Shooto organization.

Eduardo enters the UFC riding an 11-fight win streak which extends back to 2008. Fighting out of Rio’s renowned Nova Uniao camp, the 32-year-old has finished all but two of his opponents in that time span. Eduardo holds a career mark of 25-8, including 13 submissions and six knockouts, and last August claimed the Shooto South America 143-pound title with a win over Paulo “Guerreiro” Dantas.

Assuncao, 28, has had tough luck with opponents thus far in 2011. The Atlanta resident was slated to meet Manny Gamburyan at UFC 128 in March, but when Gamburyan was forced out, Assuncao instead met Erik Koch, who won via first-round knockout. Including his World Extreme Cagefighting run, Assuncao is 3-3 under the Zuffa banner, and only 1-3 in his last four starts. His 16-4 ledger includes victories over Jorge Masvidal, Joe Lauzon and Yves Jabouin.