For the third and final time this year, the Octagon travels to Brazil, touching down in Sao Paulo for a 12-fight affair headlined by a crucial light heavyweight clash between top contender Jan Blachowicz and divisional newcomer Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, who is hoping his transition from middleweight goes more like that of Anthony Smith and Thiago Santos and less like former champs Luke Rockhold and Chris Weidman.
Each of the year’s previous two stops in the South American hotbed produced new names to track that have gone on to become bona fide contenders in their respective divisions.
In February, Jairzinho Rozenstruick arrived on the heavyweight scene with a second-round stoppage win over Junior Albini.