Raphael Assuncao says retirement looming despite impressive UFC Vegas 62 victory over Victor Henry
Veteran UFC bantamweight Raphael Assuncao says retirement is looming despite his impressive UFC Vegas 62 victory over Victor Henry.
Assuncao was a +350 betting underdog against Henry in their main card bout at UFC Vegas 62. Since Assuncao is 40 years old and was coming into the bout on a four-fight losing skid, it was understandable why so many predictors had their doubts about the Brazilian. However, he turned back the clock and put on an absolutely spectacular performance with a decisive three-round win over Henry, who had some hype coming into this fight. With the win over Henry, it figures to help Assuncao inch up the ladder ever-so-slightly.
However, according to Assuncao, this impressive win over Henry likely isn’t the start of him making some sort of epic comeback. Speaking to AG Fight following the win over Henry, the veteran said that he is considering retirement and going out on a high note. However, he says one last fight is also a possibility.
“If it was a defeat (to Henry), it wouldn’t be cool. It would probably be the end. And I think the end is still near. It’s not because I won the fight that I abandoned my possible retirement. But let’s think. Who knows, maybe (UFC) has a proposal or maybe other fights that make sense. I have one more (fight) in the contract, the last one. I think (the idea is) to do the last one, do my last fight,” declared Assuncao.
Assuncao says he would consider fighting at UFC 283 in January in his native Brazil in the event he does fight again.
“Maybe in Rio (de Janeiro) it would be cool. But the opponent would have to make sense too. A fight that makes sense. I don’t have a name to call out because I never called a name. But a real retirement fight. Or even here in the United States as well. It would be an honor to fight in Rio. I fought there twice already, with victories. It was (against) Marlon Moraes and Johnny (Eduardo) at UFC 134. But it would be cool, a retirement fight against a veteran too, against a renowned guy. It would be interesting,” Assuncao concluded.
It’s worth noting that Assuncao is tied for second all-time in UFC victories with 12 with UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, just one behind former champ TJ Dillashaw, who coincidentally fights Sterling for the belt at UFC 280.
What is your favorite memory of Raphael Assuncao inside the Octagon, and where do you rate him among the best all-time UFC bantamweights?
