Giovani Decker, UFC's VP and GM in Brazil, resigns from the promotion

Giovani Decker’s days as UFC’s vice president and general manager in Brazil are over. 559 days after being announced as the new UFC chief in the country, replacing Grace Tourinho, Decker has decided to resign from the company.

UFC officials confirmed to MMA Fighting that Decker "has resigned to pursue opportunities outside of the organization." MMA Junkie first reported the news.

When officially announced by UFC president Dana White in March 2015, Decker said his goal was to put the promotion "on a different level." Under his control, the UFC held five fight cards in Brazil, including successful events in Rio de Janeiro, with Ronda Rousey vs. Bethe Correia, and the historic UFC 198 in Curitiba, headlined by Fabricio Werdum vs. Stipe Miocic.

The UFC is scheduled to return to Brazil on Nov. 19, with a rematch between Ryan Bader and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in the main event of UFC Fight Night 100 in Sao Paulo. The light heavyweights battled for the first time in 2010, with the American winning via unanimous decision.