Brazilian fighter Paulo Filho (18-1) is set to return at the Dec. 12 Bitetti Combat Event in Barueri, Sao Paulo according to Tatame.com/br and Graciemag.com. No opponent was named.

Filho had been scheduled to face Yoong Dok-Sik on Oct. 25 as part of the DREAM.12 event in Japan, but failed to show up for the bout, saying there was a misunderstanding about the dates.

Another fighter on the Bitettie Combat card, Pedro Rizzo (17-9) was forced to withdraw from the event due to an undisclosed injury.

“Paulao is in. He couldn’t fight in Japan recently and he’s been calling me every day, wanting to fight at Bitetti Combat. He is really determined and has been training hard to erase any poor impression he may have made. His opponent will be from Japan, we will confirm who he is later,” said Amaury Bitetti, further explaining Rizzo’s exit, “Pedro has tendinitis of the elbow and won’t be able to make it. Therefore he will fight at the following event, in Brasilia. His opponent will still be Valentin Overeem.”

“It seems some foreign site said Jeff Monson won’t fight. Monson is confirmed. We were set back at the last event because of some rumors on the internet. All I ask is that we be contacted before anything is announced. Nothing can be confirmed without official confirmation from the event, even if it has been copied from foreign websites. It will be a great show and we’ll make history again,” said Amaury in finishing.