Cleuder F. "Junior" Assunção (born June 24, 1981) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist

Mixed martial arts

Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...

. He competes in the lightweight and featherweight divisions.

Biography

Originally from Northeastern Brazil, Junior grew up in Miami, and now resides in Atlanta. He is also the older brother of Raphael Assunção and Freddy Assunção who also fight as mixed martial artists.

Early career

UFC veteran, Junior Assuncāo, has earned black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Capoeira and has been a coach for over nine years.

He is the head instructor at ASCENSION MMA in Atlanta, GA. His professional MMA career has led to extensive training in these disciplines as well as in Boxing, Judo, Muay Thai, and Wrestling. He has trained out of Black House (Casa Preta) gym in Brazil with the likes of MMA powerhouses Anderson Silva

Anderson Silva

Anderson da Silva is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He is the current UFC Middleweight Champion and the promotion's longest reigning champion. With 14 consecutive wins, Silva holds the longest winning streak and title defense streak in UFC history...

 and Lyoto Machida

Lyoto Machida

Lyoto Carvalho Machida is a Japanese-Brazilian mixed martial artist from Belém, Brazil who fights as a light heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...

.

Junior's martial arts foundation is in Capoeira

Capoeira

Capoeira is a Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, sports, and music. It was created in Brazil mainly by descendants of African slaves with Brazilian native influences, probably beginning in the 16th century...

, a Brazilian fight system characterized by acrobatic sweeps, kicks, and head butts that rely heavily on core strength. Having trained under Mestre Delei for 12 years, Junior credits his success in the combat sports to this discipline. As an instructor, Junior incorporates many techniques from Capoeira, such as agility, balance, and practical strength. He also has coached at Combat Sports Center in Richmond, VA. He is represented by Suckerpunch Entertainment.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Assunção originally debuted for the UFC in 2006. He went 1-2 in the promotion and was released following a loss to Nate Diaz in 2007. Following his release, he amassed a record of 7 wins and 1 loss.

In 2011, Assunção re-signed with the promotion. He faced promotional newcomer Eddie Yagin

Eddie Yagin

Eddie “The Filipino Phenom” Yagin is a Filipino-American mixed martial artist from Honolulu, Hawaii. He is a former X-1 Featherweight Champion, former Tachi Palace Fights Featherweight Champion and is currently signed as a Featherweight in the UFC.-Pre-UFC:Yagin was scheduled to face off...

 in a featherweight

Featherweight (MMA)

The featherweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*UFC's & Pancrase's featherweight division, which groups competitors within 136 to 145 lb...

 bout on September 24, 2011 at UFC 135

UFC 135

UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 24, 2011 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.-Background:...

. Assunção went on to win the fight by unanimous decision.

Assunção is expected to face Ross Pearson

Ross Pearson

Ross Pearson is an English professional mixed martial artist from Sunderland. He is the lightweight division winner of The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom and is a member of Team Rough House.-Background:...

 on December 30, 2011 at UFC 141

UFC 141

UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem is an upcoming mixed martial arts event to be held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 30, 2011, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...

.

Mixed martial arts record

|-
|Win
|align=center|13-4
|  Eddie Yagin

Eddie Yagin

Eddie “The Filipino Phenom” Yagin is a Filipino-American mixed martial artist from Honolulu, Hawaii. He is a former X-1 Featherweight Champion, former Tachi Palace Fights Featherweight Champion and is currently signed as a Featherweight in the UFC.-Pre-UFC:Yagin was scheduled to face off...

|Decision (unanimous)
|UFC 135

UFC 135

UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 24, 2011 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.-Background:...

|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
| Denver, Colorado

Denver, Colorado

The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|Drops to Featherweight
|-
|Win
|align=center|12-4
|  Wesley Murch
|Submission (rear naked choke)
|Recife FC 4
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|5:00
|Recife, Brazil
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|11-4
|  Mark Miller

Mark Miller (fighter)

Marcus Dennis Miller is an American mixed martial artist. He has won MMA welterweight titles with XFO and Total Fight Challenge as well as the USKO international rules kickboxing title. A former IFL fighter, Miller was a competitor on SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs...

|KO (punch)
|Recife FC 3
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|4:03
|Recife, Brazil
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|10-4
|  John Mahlow
|Submission (guillotine choke)
|XFC#XFC 10: Night of Champions
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|4:02
|Florida

Florida

Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|Won vacant XFC Lightweight Title
|-
|Win
|align=center|9-4
|  Pete Grimes
|Decision (split)
|ShineFights 2
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Florida

Florida

Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-
|Win
|align=center|8-4
|  Kamrin Naville
|Decision (unanimous)
|KOTC - Invincible
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|3:00
|Georgia

Georgia (U.S. state)

Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-
|Win
|align=center|7-4
|  Kalvin Hackney
|Decision (unanimous)
|Wild Bill's Full Throttle
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Georgia

Georgia (U.S. state)

Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|6-4
|  Torrance Taylor
|Decision (unanimous)
|AFL - Bulletproof
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Georgia

Georgia (U.S. state)

Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-
|Win
|align=center|6-3
|  Steve Sharp
|Submission (guillotine choke)
|AFL: Erupption
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|4:26
|Kentucky

Kentucky

The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|5-3
|  Nate Diaz
|Submission (guillotine choke)
|UFC Fight Night 11

UFC Fight Night 11

UFC Fight Night: Thomas vs Florian referred to by the media as UFC Fight Night 11 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada...

|
|align=center|1
|align=center|4:10
|Nevada

Nevada

Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-
|Win
|align=center|5-2
|  David Lee

David Lee (fighter)

David Lee is an English professional mixed martial artist who has competed for Ultimate Fighting Championship, Cage Rage, BAMMA, Bushido and Cage Rage UK...

|Submission (rear naked choke)
|UFC 70

UFC 70

UFC 70: Nations Collide was the second UFC event held in the United Kingdom, and the first in Manchester on Saturday, April 21, 2007. The first UFC event in the UK was UFC 38: Brawl at the Hall on July 13, 2002. UFC 70 was also only the seventh UFC event held outside the United States, and the...

|
|align=center|2
|align=center|1:55
|Manchester

Manchester

Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|4-2
|  Kurt Pellegrino

Kurt Pellegrino

Kurt Joseph Pellegrino is a retired American mixed martial artist. He is best known for competing in the lightweight division of the UFC. Pellegrino's first fight in the UFC came in 2006...

|Submission (rear naked choke)
|UFC 64

UFC 64

UFC 64: Unstoppable was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday, October 14, 2006. The event took place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada and was broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States and...

|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:04
|Nevada

Nevada

Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-
|Win
|align=center|4-1
|  Scott Hope
|Submission (strikes)
|ISCF - Knuckle Up 4
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:43
|Georgia

Georgia (U.S. state)

Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-
|Win
|align=center|3-1
|  Dustin Hazelett

Dustin Hazelett

Dustin Tyler Hazelett is a American mixed martial artist. He is best known for his fights as a welterweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-Martial arts background:Dustin Hazelett was born in Louisa, Kentucky, USA...

|TKO (punches)
|FT 3 - Full Throttle 3
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|4:27
|Georgia

Georgia (U.S. state)

Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-
|Win
|align=center|2-1
|  Danny Payne
|Submission (rear naked choke)
|FT 2 - Full Throttle 2
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:50
|Georgia

Georgia (U.S. state)

Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-
|Win
|align=center|1-1
|  Will Bradford
|Submission (guillotine choke)
|ISCF - Compound Fracture 2
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:55
|Georgia

Georgia (U.S. state)

Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|0-1
|  Andrew Chappelle
|Decision (unanimous)
|ISCF - Fight Party
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|3:00
|Georgia

Georgia (U.S. state)

Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

|
|-

External links