Report: Raphael Assuncao meets newcomer Pedro Munhoz at UFC 170

With top bantamweight contender Raphael Assuncao (21-4 MMA, 5-1 UFC) in need of an opponent at UFC 170, promotional newcomer Pedro Munhoz (10-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has reportedly answered the call.

MMASun’s Jason Coles first tweeted about the booking, and MMAFighting.com has since confirmed the matchup with sources close to the booking. However, UFC officials have yet to make an announcement.

Should the matchup hold true, the bout will take place at UFC 170, which takes place Feb. 22 at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Events Center. The night’s main card airs on pay-per-view. The Assuncao vs. Munhoz matchup would likely take place on the evening’s FOX Sports 1-televised preliminary card, which precedes the evening’s main card and airs just after a pair of bouts that stream on UFC Fight Pass.

Assuncao was initially expected to face Francisco Rivera at UFC 170, but “Cisco” suffered a broken hand in training and was forced to withdraw from the contest.

Assuncao currently sits at No. 7 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA bantamweight rankings. A five-time WEC veteran, Assuncao is a former featherweight who in 2011 made the move down to 135 pounds. He’s since gone 5-0, including a razor-thin decision win over T.J. Dillashaw in October.

Meanwhile, Munhoz is the current Resurrection Fighting Alliance bantamweight champion, fighting most recently in January with a 41-second win over Billy Daniels. Fighting professionally since 2009, six of Munhoz’s 10 career wins have come by way of submission.

With the reported addition, the UFC 170 card now includes:

MAIN CARD

• Ronda Rousey vs. Sara McMann – for women’s bantamweight title
• Daniel Cormier vs. Rashad Evans
• Rory MacDonald vs. Demian Maia
• Mike Pyle vs. T.J. Waldburger
• Stephen Thompson vs. Robert Whittaker

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Alexis Davis vs. Jessica Eye
• Raphael Assuncao vs. Pedro Munhoz
• Lucas Martins vs. Aljamain Sterling
• Zach Makovsky vs. Josh Sampo

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Erik Koch vs. Rafaello Oliveira
• Ernest Chavez vs. Yosdenis Cedeno

For the latest on UFC 170, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Pedro Munhoz)