If either TJ Dillashaw or Renan Barao pull out of their prolonged rematch at UFC on Fox 16, don’t expect Raphael Assuncao to be a replacement.
Freddy Assuncao, Raphael’s brother and current Titan FC featherweight, told Last Word on Sports that Raphael has stopped training in order to focus on recovery.
“He was actually training, but he came back a little too early,” Freddy says, “The doctor put him back on a cast for another three weeks. It was for precautionary reasons. He was having a little bit of pain.”
Raphael was forced to pull out of his fight against Urijah Faber earlier this year with an ankle injury. Raphael said that the injury occurred in December of the previous year, but that the ankle didn’t fully heal in time for a proper training camp.
Freddy says that Rafael was content with taking a tune-up fight before taking on the winner of Dillashaw vs. Barao, but because of the injuries, he’s now only looking for a title shot or super fights at featherweight.
“He’s not really interested in fighting anyone, other than for the title. He deserves the championship,” Freddie says.
Raphael’s last fight took place in October of 2014 when he beat Brian Caraway by unanimous decision. Raphael holds a win over current UFC Bantamweight Champion TJ Dillashaw.
