Iuri Alcântara

Background and early career

Alcântara was born on the island of Marajó, Pará in Brazil. Incidentally, Alcântara takes his fighting nickname from the island and is billed as Iuri "Marajó" Alcântara. Alcântara trains at the "Striker Team" team and is managed by Wallid Ismail, the owner of the Jungle Fight promotion that Alcântara has competed in and won a championship.

Alcântara's early career was spaced out considerably. His debut fight took place in March 2004 and he would not return until June 2005, where he won twice in the space of four months. Amongst Alcântara's wins was a grand prix tournament victory in November 2009, when he defeated two fighters in a single night.

Jungle Fight

Alcântara then joined his manager's promotion, Jungle Fight, to compete at the Jungle Fight 19 event against Viscardi Andrade. He went the distance with Andrade, something that had only happened once before in his career. Alcântara won via split decision, the first decision victory in his career.

Following another win via armbar, outside of Jungle Fight, Alcântara returned for the Jungle Fight 21 event to face Armando Gomes. Alcântara claimed another first round stoppage, when he ended the fight via TKO (punches).

Alcântara entered into the lightweight grand prix at Jungle Fight 22. His opening round fight was against the highly touted, once undefeated Francisco Trinaldo. Trinaldo had previously been named as one of the top prospects in the sport of MMA, having defeated experienced veterans such as Luiz Firmino. Despite the reputation of his opponent, Alcântara was able to hand Trinaldo his first professional loss when he forced him to tap out to an armbar in the second round.

The win advanced Alcântara into the final where he faced the Peruvian Manuelo Morales. Alcântara ran through Morales, defeating him via TKO from a front kick to the body, in just 16 seconds of the opening round. With the win, Alcântara became the first ever Jungle Fight Lightweight Champion.

World Extreme Cagefighting

On November 3, 2010, it was announced that Alcântara had signed a five-fight deal with Zuffa and that his debut would come at World Extreme Cagefighting's final event, WEC 53. His opponent was Ricardo Lamas and Alcântara won via KO in the first round.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

On October 28, 2010, World Extreme Cagefighting merged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As part of the merger, most WEC fighters were transferred to the UFC.

Alcântara was expected to make his featherweight debut against Mackens Semerzier on August 27, 2011 at UFC 134 However, Semerzier was injured and was replaced on the card by UFC newcomer Antonio Carvalho. Carvalho also was forced from the bout, with an injury, and replaced by Felipe Arantes. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Alcântara faced Michihiro Omigawa on January 14, 2012 at UFC 142. He won the fight via unanimous decision after rocking Omigawa on several occasions and almost submitting him with an armbar.

Alcântara faced promotional newcomer Hacran Dias on June 23, 2012 at UFC 147. Dias defeated Alcântara via unanimous decision.

Alcântara was expected to drop to bantamweight and face George Roop on January 19, 2013 at UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Bisping. However, Roop was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by promotional newcomer Pedro Nobre. After nearly finishing Nobre early in the first round with a submission attempt, the bout was declared a No Contest as Alcântara was ruled to have landed an inadvertent, but illegal strike to the back of Nobre’s head, rendering him unable to continue at 2:11 of round 1.

Alcântara was expected to face Marcos Vinicius on May 18, 2013 at UFC on FX 8. However, Vinicius was forced out of the bout citing an injury. He instead faced UFC newcomer Iliarde Santos and won the fight via first round TKO.

Alcântara faced Urijah Faber on August 17, 2013 at UFC Fight Night 26. Despite having Faber in trouble early in the first round, Alcântara was unable to stop Faber's wrestling and relentless top game and lost a unanimous decision.

Alcântara faced Wilson Reis on February 15, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 36. He won the fight via split decision.

Alcântara faced Vaughan Lee on May 31, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 41. He won the fight by KO early in the first round.

Alcântara next faced Russell Doane on September 13, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 51. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Alcântara faced Frankie Saenz on February 22, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 61. Despite being the heaviest betting favorite on the card, Alcântara lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Alcântara faced Leandro Issa on August 1, 2015 at UFC 190. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Alcântara next faced Jimmie Rivera on January 30, 2016 at UFC on Fox 18. He lost the back-and-forth fight by unanimous decision. Both participants were awarded a Fight of the Night bonus.

Alcântara faced Brad Pickett on October 8, 2016 at UFC 204. He won the fight via submission in the first round and was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.

Alcântara faced Luke Sanders on March 4, 2017 at UFC 209. After losing the first round and absorbing a number of strikes, Alcântara rallied back and won the fight via a kneebar submission in the second round and earned himself another Performance of the Night bonus.

Mixed martial arts