After graduating with a business degree and working for a year as a marketing assistant, Arroyo decided to pursue MMA professionally, after practising martial arts through most of his youth.[4]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Starting his career in 2014, Arroyo compiled a 7–2 record on the regional Brazilian scene, capturing the Salvaterra Marajó Fight Middleweight Championship in the process.[4] After this, he was invited onto Dana White's Contender Series Brazil 1, where he won a unanimous decision against Diego Henrique da Silva. This win did not however earn him a UFC contract.[5] Arroyo was invited back the next year to Dana White's Contender Series 20, where he faced Stephen Regman and winning the bout via arm-triangle choke in the second round. This time, Arroyo earned a UFC contract for his performance.[6]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Arroyo was expected to make his promotional debut against Kevin Holland on 16 November 2019 at UFC Fight Night: Błachowicz vs. Jacaré.[7] However, in late September, promotion officials elected to remove Holland from the bout in favor of a matchup against Brendan Allen on 18 October 2019 at UFC on ESPN 6.[8]Alessio Di Chirico was then expected to face Arroyo,[9] however, it was announced on 24 October 2019 that Arroyo was scheduled to fight André Muniz instead.[10] Arroyo lost the fight via unanimous decision.[11]
Arroyo was scheduled to face Trevin Giles on 8 February 2020 at UFC 247.[12] However Arroyo pulled out a day before the event due to medical issues and was replaced by James Krause.[13]
Arroyo was expected to face Andreas Michailidis at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos on 14 November 2020.[14] However, Michailidis withdrew on 23 October due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced Eryk Anders.[15] At the weigh-ins, Anders weighed in at 187.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the middleweight non-title fight limit. The bout was to proceed at catchweight, and Anders fined 20% of his purse, which would go to Arroyo.[16] Anders eventually pulled out of the fight the next day as a consequence of the weigh-cut and the bout was canceled.[17]
Arroyo was scheduled to face Tom Breese on 5 June 2021 at UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai.[20] However the fight would be cancelled a few hours before it was to take place due to medical issues suffered by Breese.[21]
After the loss, Arroyo was announced to no longer be a part of the UFC roster.[24]
Post UFC
After winning via triangle choke on the Brazilian regional scene, Arroyo faced Evgeniy Ignatiev on August 26, 2022 at RCC 12. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[25]
Karate Combat
After debuting with Karate Combat and winning his first two bouts by technical knockout, Arroyo faced Sam Alvey on March 23, 2024 at Karate Combat Kickback 2 and the bout ended in a no contest as a result of an accidental headbutt which rendered Alvey unable to continue.[26]