Iuri Alcantara isn't getting the opponent most expected, but “Marajo” now has an official booking in his native Brazil.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship officially announced that Alcantara will take on newly-signed Ring of Combat standout Brian Kelleher at UFC 212 on June 3 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It will be the 15th UFC bout for Alcantara and the promotional debut for Kelleher.
Alcantara, 36, was briefly linked to a rematch with fellow Brazilian “Sertanejo” Felipe Arantes for the card, but Arantes pulled out of the bout for undisclosed reasons. The native of Para, Brazil has pulled off two rousing submissions in a row, styling on now-retired Brad Pickett before finishing him via triangle choke last October, then overcoming an early beating from previously unbeaten Luke Sanders before nabbing a second-round kneebar.