Eight-Time UFC Vet Hacran Dias to Headline Shooto Brazil 84 in Rio de Janeiro

Hacran Dias will make his first mixed martial arts appearance since parting ways with the UFC last year when he headlines Shooto Brazil 84 on Saturday.

Dias will square off against Mauricio Machado in a lightweight bout in Rio de Janeiro. The fighter known as “Barnabe” was released from the UFC last year after a 3-5 run in the promotion. He last appeared at UFC Fight Night 119 on Oct. 28, losing a unanimous decision to Jared Gordon.

Shooto Brazil 84 will feature 11 bouts, including a co-main event pitting Rafael Bernardo against Jaciel de Souza.

"We are very pleased with the assembly of this card. The return of Hacran after five years of competing for the largest MMA promotion in the world is quite significant. It was in Shooto that he projected himself internationally and we are sure that this return will do very well for him to take back the path of success he has always had in his career, said Shooto Brazil president Andre Pederneiras.

Dias hasn’t fought under the Shooto Brazil banner since December 2012. The 34-year-old Brazilian compiled an 8-0 record for the organization and is 23-6-1 as a professional overall. He owns notable wins over Darren Elkins and Iuri Alcantara and also faced the likes of Cub Swanson, Ricardo Lamas and Nik Lentz during his UFC tenure.