“The guy had a good performance definitely,” admitted Assuncao after the fight.

Grimes came out aggressive throwing wide hooks that zipped in front of Assuncao, but also a powerful right body kick that crashed into Assuncao’s ribs twice. Grimes threw a spinning backfist that Assuncao shot beneath for a takedown. On the mat, Assuncao landed elbows to Grimes’s head while passing Grimes’s guard.

The second round had the urgency of an exhibition sparring match as Grimes waved his hands tauntingly and Assuncao raised his hands to urge the crowd’s participation. Grimes thre a spinning high kick, blocked by Assuncao and followed by an Assuncao takedown. From inside Grimes’s full guard, Assuncao landed a double-hammer fist.

In the third round, Assuncao tripped Grimes and passed to half guard and worked furiously to earn a stoppage with elbows to Grimes’s head. But, Grimes held on to avoid the stoppage, though he left the cage with split open from the last Assuncao flurry.

The fight card:

“Jucao” Roan Carneiro (12-8) v “Macaco” Jorge Patino (22-11-1)
“Buscape” Luiz Firmino (12-4) v “Irish Assassin” Ryan Healy (10-5-1)
“Sobrevivente” Flavio Alvaro (24-6) v “White Bear” Jean Silva (16-8-3)
Yves Edwards (34-15-1 v James Warfield (12-4)
Junior Assuncao (8-4) v “Gladiator” Gideon Ray (15-10-1)
Micah Miller (11-3) v Anthony Morrison (7-6)
“Whisper” Herbert Goodman (5-4) v James Brasco (5-1)
Phil Friedman (1-1) v Brian Fuery (0-0)
Danny Chavez (2-1) v “Tagarela” Jonatas Gurgel (3-0)

American Top Team vs. The World will be held in Miami 4 September, but broadcast on The Fight Network 12 September.

ATT’s Carneiro enters Shine off of a 2-3 stint in the UFC ending with split decision loss to “Piranha” Ryo Chonan (15-10) at UFC 88 in Atlanta last September.

Patino won a UD over “Blackjack” Beau Baker (7-2) at KAPMMA in Newark last February.

The card also features UFC vet Junior Assuncao (8-4), WEC vets Carlo Prater (24-7-1), “Maverick” Micah Miller (12-3) and “Irish Assassin” Ryan Healy (4-4-1), and PRIDE and DREAM vet “Buscape” Luis Firmino (12-4).

 Junior Assuncao:

Cale Yarbrough:

Rory Singer:

Ultimate Fighter, Cale Yarbrough (1-1), displayed an impressive and vastly improved ground game along with heavy hands to defeat a strong Anthony McKee (1-1) via TKO stoppage. 

Local favorite Jeff Boudreaux (3-1) eventually tapped to Kentucky’s Joe Heink (4-0) in a back-and-forth war of attrition. 

Jeff Bedard (10-2), Dave Vitkay (7-8), Dustin Chovanic (2-0) and Clint Hester (1-0) all walked away with victories as well. 

Assuncao Pleases The Masses With A Well-Rounded Exhibition of MMA

Kalvin Hackney (3-1) entered the venue with an entourage of rappers repeating the phrase; “I wanna be a dog, I wanna be a beast.”  Hackney proved to be a tenacious opponent; but, Assuncao’s experience took the spotlight. 

Junior Assuncao (7-3) displayed strong wrestling and jiu-jitsu skills transitioning from submission attempt to submission attempt continuously throughout the bulk of the fight. In round one the clinchwork was even for the most part with Junior winning the edge in knees and punches. The opening round ends with Assuncao nearly sinking a guillotine choke.

Hackney appeared gassed in the beginning of the second round approaching his opponent with hands down beside his waist and his mouth open. The fighters rolled and transitioned from multiple submission attempts on Assuncao’s part yet again. Hackney came back to life momentarily late in the round landing respectful punches only to get tagged with a strong kick to the chin. Junior ended the round in half guard landing undefended elbow shots.

The final round began with both fighters smiling and touching gloves. Junior landed leg and body kicks before taking the single leg and falling into top position. The energy of the room and momentum of the fight was all on the side of Assuncao. During one escape from the ground, Hackney stood over a seated Assuncao raining down a few straight punches only to have Assuncao land a jumping roundhouse kick from his Capoeira arsenal. The crowd was pleased by the exciting move and equally enthusiastic as the final bell sounded with Assuncao throwing a barrage of double hammerfists and waving his hand in victory to the audience. 

All three judges scored the bout a unanimous decision for Assucao 27-30. 

Yarbrough Wins An Impressive Moral Victory With Power On The Ground And The Feet

The fighters clashed immediately with a strong kick to the midsection of Anthony McKee (1-1) from Yarbrough. Mckee took a single leg and dropped Yarbrough into guard position landing some strong shots over the top. Yarbrough answered the shots with a triangle attempt nearly catching McKee before an escape followed by a nasty elbow strike from Yarbrough. 

Within the first half of  the round, Yarbrough attempted five submissions, displaying a strongly improved ground game. Yarbrough transitioned from triangles to armbars fluidly with Mckee having no answers for the ground assault. Standing briefly, Yarbrough landed an extremely heavy overhand right which visibly injured McKee’s left eye leaving a massive mouse. Following a flurry of punches and knees, both of McKee’s eyes started to swell shut. The fight was totally in Yarbrough’s command.

After the closing bell, a visibly hurt McKee crawled back to his corner. McKee looked very injured resulting in a time delay before the second round. The end of the fight was made official when McKee himself threw in the towel by failing to answer the bell. In the affair, Yarbrough attempted eight total submissions and landed an equally impressive amount of heavy shots from all angles. 

Yarbrough was officially awarded the victory via TKO stoppage due to eye injury. 

Local Favorite Boudreaux Upset By Heink From Louisville

Former WEC light heavyweight champion Brian Stann (6-1) was in Boudreaux’s corner before the starting bell pumping the local hero into readiness. Jeff Boudreaux (3-1) looked determined and focused as the two fighters met in the center of the ring. Joe Heink (4-0) opened with a strong leg kick to be answered immediately by a massive slam from Boudreaux. Boudreaux took top  position and attempted a guillotine choke before Heink rolled into rubber guard. Heink attempted an awkward Americana and then the fight slowed to a stalemate. 

Following a restart, Heink’s boxing appeared crisper with Boudreaux bleeding heavily from his nose as evidence. Boudreaux landed a takedown and plastered Heink with repeated hammerfists. Heink survived the storm and got to his feet only to get tagged with a hard shot from Boudreaux. Boudreaux regained some momentum at round’s end with a strong right hook but walked back to his corner following the bell with a swollen eye. The first round was a close and active round by both fighters. 

The second round began with Boudreax showing fatigue. The fighters clinched immediately with Boudreaux winning the takedown battle. On top, Boudreaux controlled the pace until Heink got a hook in trying for the rear mount. Heink then attempted a Kimura transitioning into a triangle attempt and then into an armbar. Boudreaux caught tight in the armbar almost escaped trying to lift Heink up into a slam. Heink patiently held on and within seconds Boudreaux was forced to tap out.

Joe Heink officially won by armbar submission at 1:58 of the second round. 

Vikay Chokes Out The Veteran Carney 

West Viginia’s Todd Carney (32-22-1) is a coal miner by day and fighter by night. Seasoned with over fifty professional fights in his career. The veteran charged forward into a strong head kick by challenger Dave Vitkay (1-0). The fighters tied up in a clinch on the ropes with Carney throwing repeated rib shots. Falling to the the ground, Vitkay took top position in half guard landing elbows as Carney remained focused on the ribs. 

Vitkay landed some strong overhands before Carney transitioned into full mount. The mount was brief as Carney rolled over giving up his back. Getting his hooks in, Vitkay attempted a rear-naked-choke and then transitioned into an armbar attempt. Carney escaped but Vitkay jumped to his feet landing a heavy, heavy overhand right. Carney was hurt but saved by the bell. 

The second round began with Vitkay landing another strong head kick. Carney rushed forward taking a single leg. On the ground the fighters rolled over with Vitkay sinking in a deep guillotine choke. Carney quickly tapped.

Vitkay wins a quick second round submission victory at the 0.37 mark. 

Bedard Wins In Overwhelming Highlight Reel Fashion

Immediately at the opening bell, Jeff Bedard (9-2) clocked James Foster (9-6) with a devastating head kick reminiscent of Cro-Cop in his prime. Foster fell hard in this stunning knockout affair going into a few moments of convulsions before coming back to consciousness. It was both a thrilling and frightening moment for fans on hand as Foster flopped around on his back uncontrollably. 

Bedard wins via KO at 0:06 of the first round. 

Hester The Victor In A Bloody, Bloody Bout

Clint Hester (1-0) and Aaron Johnson (0-1) excitingly charged one another from the opening bell in a mutual professional debut. Landing strong leg kicks, Johnson quickly pulled guard. Suddenly Hester caught Johnson with a vicious elbow from top position resulting in a nasty cut that temporarily stopped the fight for inspection from the ringside physician. The fight was allowed to go forward with Hester continuing to land heavy shots in the guard. Back to their feet Johnson countered with a heavy shot of his own. Falling to the ground Hester attempted a submission with blood pouring massively on the canvas from Johnson’s cut. There was a tremendous amount of blood forcing the referee to stop  the fight. 

Hester won his professional debut via TKO (doctor stoppage) due to the cut. 

Chovanic Pounds Decisively To Victory

Dustin Chovanic (1-0) opened the fight with an overhand right rivaled by kick attempts from Jason Wiggins (9-7). This was a battle of North Carolina with both journeymen settling the score front of an Atlanta crowd. Chovanic quickly took Wiggins down securing a mount on his back. Landing heavy, heavy ground-and-pound from the mount, Chovanic overwhelms Wiggins into an impressively quick knockout. 

Chovanic takes the win via KO at 0:44 of round one. 

Fighters.com: Junior, Saturday’s Fight Night at Wild Bill’s is being billed as one of the most stacked cards in the history of the venue.  What’s your thoughts on the approaching event?

Junior Assuncao: Good, well actually I have good and bad memories about fighting at Wild Bill’s.  I’ve had some of my best happen there.  I’ve had some wars there.  Hopefully I’ll be able to repeat that on Saturday.

Fighters.com: Your opponent, Kalvin Hackney (3-0), has a good fight record but not nearly as much  experience as you.  What’s your thoughts on Hackney as an opponent?

Junior Assuncao: He has definitely proven to be a legit opponent.  He has fought in a couple of main events here in Atlanta.  Not being a local, he came out and fought hard.  His record shows, I mean, he’s undefeated.  I am sure he’s going to bring his A-game.

Fighters.com: Recently in the press, Hackney proclaimed that he will remain undefeated by beating you and disappointing the hometown crowd.  What do you say to this?

Junior Assuncao: Well, he’s done this already three times before.  [laughing]  You know, that’s why I had to step up.  I am not going to say he does not have a chance because the sport is unpredictable.  I have been doing my homework and I am ready to go. I have been in a really solid training camp for this fight.  I wasn’t actually expecting to fight him because I was supposed have another fight in Denver, Colorado, but that didn’t work out.  But, you know, if he thinks he’s going to remain undefeated that’s fine.  I was undefeated one time as well.  Fights are unpredictable but I am confident that I am going do what I have to do to come out with the win.

Fighters.com: Kalvin has both stand-up victories and submissions on his record.  Where do you see success for you in the fight?  On the feet or on the ground?

Junior Assuncao: I think that anywhere the fight goes I am going to be ready.  I’ve been through some stand-up wars in my career and I have fought a lot good guys on the ground in the past.  You know, I don’t really even think that way.  I just get myself ready for any situation.  I am going to last the whole time with him.  I actually don’t believe he’s going to make it past the first round.  That’s my personal prediction.  If I let it get past the first round, then I’ll have another plan, but I am going to really push the pace and see just how good his cardio really is.

Fighters.com: You’re a blackbelt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and an instructor with a school in Atlanta.  Will you tell the fans a little about your background in Brazil and how you got to the United States and to the place where you are now.

Junior Assuncao: Well, I started out in Capoeira.  I started when I was twelve-years old and I practiced up until I was eighteen.  I’m a blackbelt in Capoeira.  At seventeen I started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  I’ve been involved in martial arts all my life really.  In I997 I moved to Atlanta and started training with “Jacare” Romero Cavalcanti at Alliance Martial Arts Center.  I was there for five years; but, it was traditional jiu-jitsu only.  Then I started training with some guys from L.A. Boxing, which is now known as Knuckle-Up Fitness.  I was there for four years.  It was good because I got to be around many other disciplines and develop the other aspects of fighting.  L.A. Boxing at the time had boxing and Muay Thai and so on.

Seven months ago I decided it was time for me to do my own thing.  I have my own methods of teaching and working with other fighters.  It’s going very well.  We have a solid group of guys here. I am personally teaching the classes.  I look forward to coming here each day and train with everyone.  The school is called “Ascension Mixed Martial Arts”.  It’s my baby.  I already have some guys starting to fight.  We are trying to build it up now.

Fighters.com: When you were at Alliance with “Jacare”, did you train with “Mayhem” Jason Miller (21-6)?

Junior Assuncao: Oh yeah, man, me and Jason actually got our blue belts on the same day.  We are from the same generation.  We started around the same time.  Me, Mayhem, Paul Creighton (2-1), and “The Inferno” Jeff Joslin (5-3).  Paul was actually training to fight “Prodigy” BJ Penn (13-4-1) back then.  He’s got a school now in Duluth [north of Georgia].  There was a bunch of good guys.  We had a really solid group of guys back then.  It’s good to have trained with those guys and succeeded and to see everybody almost ten years later doing good things.

Fighters.com: Did you here a few weeks ago that Jason Miller announced he was retiring from mixed martial arts competition?

Junior Assuncao: Yeah, I heard about that, man!  But, I won’t believe it until I actually talk to him.  Who knows?  He may be burned out a bit.  We all get to that point eventually.  He’s been fighting a long time.  But, if he retires, I really don’t blame him.  Jason doesn’t have anything else to prove.  He’s fought a bunch of really tough guys.  He’s been in a bunch of different training camps and worked with a lot of great fighters.  He’s helped to build a lot of fighters too.  He’s been a training partner of “Hollywood” Dan Henderson (23-7). Jason is a good guy.  I am not going to say that I don’t blame him, but I guess wouldn’t be surprised if he stepped out of the scene for a few years.

Fighters.com: Junior, you’re coming off a decision loss to Torrance Taylor (6-4-1) at the AFL in May.  Has this loss provided you extra motivation for your upcoming fight this Saturday?

Junior Assuncao: I guess, yeah.  You know, the fight with Taylor was a very interesting fight.  Taylor was really strong on his feet.  But, I knew that going in to the fight.  We basically stood up for three rounds.  I took him down when I needed to but he didn’t want to have anything to do with the ground game.  But, you know, it was good.  I have not been through too many decision losses in my career.  I am always trying so hard to win, that something like this exposes me to what it means to lose.  If this makes sense.  [laughing]  In that fight, everyone was telling me not to be over-aggressive so Taylor wouldn’t counter and catch me with a surprise shot.  You know, it was good because I really tested myself.  Taylor hits really hard.  When the fight ended I thought I won.  My corner told me that I won too.  But, they gave the decision to Taylor.  It was a close fight.  And, it was good that I got to test myself against a stand-up fighter.

As far as the motivation for my fight on Saturday, I am not under-estimating Kalvin of course.  I mean, I don’t under-estimate anybody.  That’s just my personality.  But, I don’t think Kalvin will be as aggressive or technical as Taylor or the guy before that or even the guy before that also.  [laughing]  The guy before Taylor, “Razor” Steve Sharp (22-10), was another really good guy.  We had a battle.  And, then before that, I fought Nathan Diaz (10-2).

I think I have been tested you know.  I have been hit every way you can imagine.  When I got to the UFC, I only had about five fights.  So, I was just a baby.  I am still just a baby really.  I only have ten fights.  I have been tested, so I just don’t see anything that Kalvin is going to do to me that everyone else hasn’t already done or tried to do anyway.  [laughing]

Fighters.com: Speaking of Nathan Diaz.  He was your last opponent in the UFC.  When will we see you in the Octagon again?

Junior Assuncao: Man, I hope to get back to the UFC as soon as possible.  But, I know I have to build up some wins in order to get there.  My fight against Nate was a very entertaining fight. E ven Joe Silva himself told me so.  I mean, I was winning the fight before I got caught.  I personally think I took Nate too lightly. Again, listening to people telling me to not be over-aggressive, I lost and still got caught.  I didn’t fight my fight.

You know, I think if I keep training like I am now and if I fight the way I have been training now, I think I’ll get back to the UFC.  I’ll earn my opportunity to get back to the UFC.  I hope everything is good on Saturday and then I’ll fight by June of next year.  Then I am going to start knocking on the UFC’s door again.

Fighters.com: There’s a lot of talent in the Atlanta area. Of course UFC and Fighters.com’s Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin (16-4) originally comes from this area.  And, then there’s fighters such as Brian Bowles (6-0) moving up the ranks in the WEC.  What’s your thoughts on mixed martial arts in Georgia?

Junior Assuncao: My brother, Rafael Assuncao (10-1), is actually one of the best fighters in Georgia right now.  He’s ranked ninth in the world.  We had really bad management and they made some really bad decisions for me and my brother in our careers.  For example, when I left the UFC I still had three more fights on my contract.  But, then the American Fight League gave me a deal promising the world.  Big exposure and publicity.  The whole nine yards.  But, now they are going under.

So I gave up my contract with the UFC to sign a fourteen month contract with the AFL.  And, it didn’t go my way.  The same thing with my brother.  He has a contract from the WEC sitting in front of him, but he can’t do anything right now.  We both have to ride our contracts out until March 2009.  Then my brother should go right to the WEC.  He’s beat some of the best guys.  He beat “J-Lau” Joe Lauzon (17-4) pretty easily.  I think my brother’s going to get his chance.  It’s just a matter of us riding out our contracts and, with the right management now, the world is going to know who he is.

Assuncao went 1-2 in the Octagon and is matched versus undefeated Kalvin Hackney (2-0).

After a stint on TUF 7, Yarbrough made his professional debut in the Octagon at UFC Fight Night 14 in Las Vegas 19 July, losing to Tim Credeur (10-2).

Bedard has lost two straight, his final fight in the WEC versus Bantamweight Champion Miguel Torres (34-1) and his most recent fight versus Jarrod Card (7-3-1).

No opponent has been announced for Yarbrough and Bedard.

“This is the most competitive card, top to bottom, that I’ve ever seen in Georgia,” said matchmaker David Oblas. “There’s several huge names on this card and they’re all fighting difficult fights. The fight fans in attendance will be getting one of the best shows that I’ve ever witnessed in my years in this business.”