Brazilian middleweight Antonio Braga Neto is fighting MMA for the first time in three years | Guilherme Cruz, MMA Fighting
Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Antonio Braga Neto will finally re-enter the octagon on Dec. 19 to battle Deron Winn, MMA Fighting confirmed the news after the American Kickboxing Academy announced the middleweight bout on social media.
The UFC has yet to announce which bout headlines the card, which will likely take place at UFC APEX in Las Vegas.
Braga Neto (9-3, 1 NC) hasn’t fought in the UFC since Dec. 2017, when he lost via third-round TKO to Trevin Giles.
The two-time jiu-jitsu world champion is 1-2 in the UFC with a first-round kneebar win over Anthony Smith in 2013 followed by defeats to Clint Hester and Giles. Braga Neto competed in jiu-jitsu and grappling tournaments during his break from MMA.
Winn (6-2) signed with the promotion as an unbeaten prospect and scored a decision victory over Eric Spicely in his debut, but then lost back-to-back fights to Darren Stewart and Gerald Meerschaert.