LAS VEGAS – UFC bantamweight Raphael Assuncao said he was supposed to be in the cage with Renan Barao at Saturday’s UFC 173, but a rib injury forced him to heal up before getting a title shot. With Barao now deposed by T.J. Dillashaw , the Brazilian standout told MMAjunkie he is ready to step up as the new champion’s first challenger. “I’ve got to get a set of X-rays and an MRI to see how the soft tissues are inside, and go from there,” Assuncao (22-4 MMA, 6-1 UFC) said at the MGM Grand Garden Arena after the UFC 173 headliner. “I think in another eight weeks, I should be completely healed.” Right now, Assuncao said he’s only training to stay in shape and can’t engage in contact. He was not cleared by doctors to compete at UFC 173, which led the UFC to install Dillashaw as the next contender
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Raphael Assuncao says he can train to fight new champ Dillashaw in eight weeks – MMA Junkie