Mark Muñoz faces Roan Carneiro at UFC 184

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino-American fighter Mark Muñoz has now an opponent for his Octagon return at the UFC 184 pay-per-view on February 28, 2015 (March 1 in PH) as he is booked to square off with Roan Carneiro in a three-round middleweight tussle.

Muñoz was originally penciled to lock horns with Caio Magalhaes for his comeback assignment, but the 26-year-old Brazilian pulled out of the bout, compelling the world’s mixed martial arts organization to look for a replacement in Carneiro.

Carneiro (19-9) competed 5 times under the Ultimate Fighting Championship banner from 2007 to 2008, but he was released from the promotion after having a lackluster 2-3 record in his aforementioned run.

The 26-year-old native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil had only fought once a year after receiving the pink slip from the UFC, but he made up for lost time this past October when he won 3 matches in one night to win the inaugural Battle Grounds MMA tournament.

After more than 6 years away from the UFC cage, Carneiro was offered a multi-fight deal, which included an encounter to face Muñoz.

On the other hand, Muñoz (13-5) was last seen in action last May 31 (June 1 in PH) in the main event of UFC Fight Night 41, where he was forced to submit for the very first time in his prizefighting career by Gegard Mousasi with a first-round rear-naked choke.

In addition, it was later revealed that the 36-year-old “Filipino Wrecking Machine” tore his medial collateral ligament (MCL) and strained his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during his meeting with Mousasi.

After emerging as a potential 185-pound title contender with 7 triumphs in his first 9 UFC appearances, Muñoz has dropped three of his last four bouts, yielding to now-middleweight champion Chris Weidman, former light heavyweight king Lyoto Machida and Mousasi.

Despite having a 1-3 record in 4 matches and suffering a knee injury in his most recent outing, the UFC renewed Muñoz’s contract and made a 4-fight pact with him in June of this year.

UFC 184, which takes place at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, is headlined by a middleweight championship clash between Weidman and Vitor Belfort.

In the co-featured attraction, Ronda Rousey is set to defend the UFC women’s bantamweight belt against Cat Zingano. – Rappler.com