Video: Assuncao Spits On Opponent After BJJ Match Controversy

Raphael Assuncao was not pleased with Matt Walsh’s tactics in their International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) Atlanta Spring Open match.

The longtime perennial Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight contender officially retired in March 2023. Assuncao, 41, called it a career (28-10) on the heels of a tough third round inverted triangle choke loss to Davey Grant (watch highlights). Unfortunately for the veteran BJJ specialist and mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, his latest combat experience didn’t have an ideal result.

Assuncao won his match with the aforementioned Walsh this past weekend (Sun., May 5, 2024). However, the victory came via disqualification after Walsh utilized the lockdown position, popping Assuncao’s knee in the process and causing some post-match turmoil. Assuncao approached his opponent afterward and spit on him multiple times as seen in the embedded player above.

“10th Planet, it has all p—sies,” Assuncao can be heard saying in the video.

“This guy disrespected me on the mats,” he explained in an Instagram story (h/t BJJotter). “He popped my knee illegally. Then I asked him, ‘Hey, man. You guys gotta watch that move.’ He says that his gym are known for doing that type of move so I replied back, and ultimately, he said that he can show me much more than just popping my knee in the parking lot.

“So, I lost my temper,” Assuncao concluded. “I chased him down and I asked him, ‘Hey, you told me that you will show me much more in the parking lot.’ He sissied out. He acted like a sissy, and I just spat on him.”

Assuncao had a fruitful career in MMA as he enjoyed success through his time in World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) and UFC. At the height of his success, Assuncao was lined up to challenge Renan Barao for the UFC Bantamweight title at UFC 173 in May 2014. Unfortunately for Assuncao, injury removed him from the equation and led T.J. Dillashaw to fill in. The rest, as they say, was history.

After his run-in with Walsh, Assuncao is set to get a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on his knee in the coming days and hopes the damage isn’t as bad as he fears.

“This guy’s Instagram main quote is, ‘We smoke weed and pop knees,’ and he had told me that on the mat after he got DQ’d,” Assuncao said. “That’s when I replied and then he replied back saying that we can meet at the parking lot and stuff. When I saw him in person face-to-face, he acted like a girl.”