Renan Barao News

Adam D Martin - March 22, 2020

Former UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao has signed a new free-agent deal with the Serbian Battle Championship. SBC recently announced the signing of Barao to a multi-fight deal. Here’s the statement the promotion released on Instagram regarding Barao’s arrival.

Cole Shelton - December 6, 2019

Renan Barao’s time as a UFC fighter has come to an end. Barao is the former UFC bantamweight champion but has been on a skid as of late. He has dropped five straight and is just 2-8 in his last 10 leading to the UFC releasing him from his contract. Combate was first to report the news of his release.

Chris Taylor - September 22, 2018

A bantamweight bout featuring former division kingpin Renan Barao taking on promotional newcomer Andre Ewell took place at tonight’s UFC Fight Night 137 event in Sao Paulo. Renan Barao (34-6 MMA) entered tonight’s contest having lost four of his past five fights. Prior to that Barao was on an amazing hot streak that saw him go 20-1.

Tom Taylor - September 21, 2018

Tomorrow night, the UFC will promote its latest show in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Although this UFC Sao Paulo card has been absolutely shellacked by injuries and fight cancellations, it’s still highlighted by some interesting matchups. One of those matchups is the main event. Originally, the card was expected to be headlined by a light heavyweight showdown between ranked contenders Jimi Manuwa and Glover Teixeira. Unfortunately, Teixeira was forced out of the fight with an injury, and replaced by beefed-up middleweight contender Thiago Santos. Regrettably, Manuwa was then also forced out of the fight, and replaced by rising middleweight contender Eryk Anders. What we’ve been left with is a surprising but compelling Eryk Anders vs. Thiago Santos light heavyweight main event.

Chris Taylor - February 24, 2018

UFC Orlando Results: Brian Kelleher defeats Renan Barao A bantamweight scrap between former division champion Renan Barao and Brian Kelleher served as the featured bout of tonight’s UFC on FOX 28 prelims in Orlando.

Drake Riggs - February 21, 2018

It has been a rough past three years for one of MMA’s former very best pound-4-pound fighters in the octagon. When Renan Barao burst onto the scene in 2011 with his devasting win over Brad Pickett, the sky appeared to be the limit for the Brazilian. And to a point, it was. Barao would go 6-0 in the UFC and 32-1 overall including four wins in UFC title fights(three interim, two interim defense, and one undisputed defense) before finally losing his first fight in almost ten years. That loss would come to none other than the current champion, TJ Dillashaw in what was and still is to this day one of the biggest upsets in MMA’s history.

Tom Taylor - January 9, 2018

The lineup for UFC on Fox 28, which goes down on February 24 in Orlando, Florida, has grown by one interesting bantamweight scrap, as former champion Renan Barao is scheduled to return to action on the card. Barao’s opponent in this fight will be Brian Kelleher.  This bout was first reported by the Orlando Sentinel.

Chris Taylor - July 29, 2017

A 140-pound catchweight bout between former bantamweight champion Renan Barao and Aljamain Sterling took place during tonight’s UFC 214 prelims from Anaheim, California. Round one begins and Barao opens up with a body kick. Sterling responds with one of his own. Barao leaps in with a left hand and then a leg kick. Sterling presses forward and just misses getting caught with a spinning head kick from Renabn. Barao with a leg kick. Sterling returns fires with one to the body. Barao trips Sterling and winds up on top. Sterling immediately rolls for a leg lock. He sinks it in but Barao catches him with a good shot. Another good punch from Barao and he takes top position. The Brazilian quickly passes to half guard but Aljamain scrambles back to full guard. Barao with a left hand. He moves to half guard and lands an elbow. Renan with a some knees to the body. Sterling scrambes back with full guard. He attempts a sweep but Barao says no. Sterling looks to lock up a triangle but Barao postures up and rains down left. The horn sounds to end round one.

Tom Taylor - June 28, 2017

Back in May, we learned that former bantamweight champion Renan Barao would be returning to the division he once ruled after a 2-fight run at featherweight. The former champ’s bantamweight return was pencilled in for UFC 214, on July 29 in Anaheim, California, where he will take on long-time bantamweight contender Aljamain Sterling. According to a report from FloCombat.com, however, the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) will not be allowing Barao to brave another gruelling cut to the bantamweight division’s 136 pound cap – a cut that has gone disastrously for him in the past. Instead, the commission has decided to change Barao and Sterling’s fight to a 140 pound catchweight so that Barao doesn’t put himself in danger by cutting down to 136.

Tom Taylor - May 25, 2017

Earlier this year, we learned that, despite a decent 1-1 record at featherweight, Renan Barao would be abandoning the division in favor of a return to his former bantamweight haunts. Now, the details of Barao’s bantamweight return have been revealed. The former bantamweight king will be taking on long-time prospect Aljamain Sterling at UFC 214, this July 29 in Anaheim, California. This fight was announced by the UFC on Wednesday evening.

Tom Taylor - April 26, 2017

These days, weight cutting is a hot-button issue in MMA. This longstanding practice has left us with many cancelled fights, and worse still, many unhealthy fighters, some of whom have fainted or had to be hospitalized while trying desperately to sweat out water weight. One of the worst cuts in recent memory occurred in 2014, when former bantamweight champion Renan Barao was admitted to a hospital due to a disastrous cut for a rematch with TJ Dillashaw. This brutal cut to bantamweight, along with another decisive loss to Dillashaw in their eventual rematch, drove Barao up to the 145-pound featherweight division, where the cut would be less severe.

Chris Taylor - February 12, 2017

During last night’s UFC 208 prelims, the promotion announced that four fights had been added to April’s UFC on FOX 24 event in Kansas City. The featured fight announced for the April 15 event being a pivotal women’s strawweight bout between Rose Namajunas and Michelle Waterson.

bjpenndotcom - May 30, 2016

https://youtu.be/ATXxFhuLO1U In the co-main event of ‘UFC Fight Night 88’, #9 ranked Jeremy Stephens stepped into the Octagon to welcome former bantamweight champion Renan Barao to the division.

bjpenndotcom - May 27, 2016

On Sunday, former UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao will be making his UFC featherweight debut against Jeremy Stephens. The fight is an extremely important one for Barao, who will be looking to make a splash in the stacked featherweight division. Ahead of the fight, ESPN’s Brett Okamoto is reporting that Barao went into fight week weighing nearly 160 pounds, 15 pounds over the featherweight limit of 145 pounds. While that certainly means he would have had a hard cut for his fight on Sunday, it likely sheds some light on why Barao had trouble making 135 pounds on several occasions in the past.