Other names The Baron Team Nova Uniao / Kimura Weight 61 kg Nationality Brazilian Name Renan Barao Number of contests 1 | Reach 70.0 in (178 cm) Role Mixed martial artist Height 1.68 m | |
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Born Renan do Nascimento Mota Pegado
February 27, 1987 (age 37)
Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil ( 1987-02-27 ) Division Bantamweight
Featherweight (2005-2007) Similar People TJ Dillashaw, Dominick Cruz, Urijah Faber, Jose Aldo, Miesha Tate Profiles | ||
Parents Rene Mota, Netinho Pegado Fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | ||
Fight Night Barueri: Renan Barao Highlights
Renan do Nascimento Mota Pegado, better known as Renan Barão, ([ʁeˈnɐ̃ baˈɾɐ̃w]) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and the former UFC Bantamweight Champion. He held one of the longest unbeaten streaks in MMA history - following a loss in his professional debut, he recorded 32 straight fights without a loss (31 victories and 1 no contest) over a span of 9 years. During his championship reign, he was ranked as a top 3 pound for pound fighter and regarded as one of the best mixed martial artists in the world. His nickname Barão (baron), which predates his athletic career, was given to him by his grandmother after a character in the 1986 Brazilian soap opera Sinhá Moça.
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Renan bar o
Mixed martial arts career
He started his career in Kimura Nova União, a sports school in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Since turning professional in 2005, Barão has competed for Shooto Brazil and other smaller organizations in his native country of Brazil, having fought Rony Mariano Bezerra and Anistavio "Gasparzinho" Medeiros both former The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil contestants. He is a teammate and training partner of former WEC Featherweight Champion and former UFC Featherweight Champion José Aldo at Nova União. He received his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt from André Pederneiras in September 2011 becoming the 100th black belt under Pederneiras in the process.
In January 2010, Sherdog named him their top prospect in their list of "10 Brazilians to watch in 2010"
World Extreme Cagefighting
Barão was expected to make his North American, as well as WEC debut in a Bantamweight bout against Clint Godfrey on June 20, 2010 at WEC 49, but Godfrey was forced from the card with an injury. Barão instead faced fellow WEC newcomer Anthony Leone at an agreed 142 lb catchweight. Barão defeated Leone via submission (armbar) in the third round.
Barão defeated Chris Cariaso by rear-naked choke submission in the first round on December 16, 2010 at WEC 53.
Ultimate Fighting Championship & Interim UFC Bantamweight Championship
In October 2010, the WEC merged with the UFC. As part of the merger, all WEC fighters were transferred to the UFC.
Barão was expected to make his UFC debut on May 28, 2011 against Demetrious Johnson at UFC 130, but an undisclosed injury forced Brad Pickett out of his fight with Miguel Torres on the same card. Johnson moved up to fight Torres, while Barão faced Cole Escovedo. Barão won his debut fight in the organization via unanimous decision.
Barão faced Brad Pickett on November 5, 2011 at UFC 138. He defeated Pickett by rear-naked choke submission in the first round, also winning Fight of the Night honors.
Barão faced Scott Jorgensen on February 4, 2012 at UFC 143. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Barão was expected to face Ivan Menjivar on July 7, 2012 at UFC 148 to possibly determine the number one contender. Barão instead faced Urijah Faber for the Interim Bantamweight title after current champion Dominick Cruz was injured. It was originally scheduled to take place at UFC 148 however, due to an injury to headliner José Aldo (who was supposed to make a title defence in the event's main event fight), the Faber/Barão bout was moved to July 21, 2012 and headlined UFC 149 for the Interim Bantamweight Championship. He won the fight via unanimous decision to become the Interim UFC Bantamweight Champion. He was expected to face Dominick Cruz for the unified UFC Bantamweight Championship at a later date. However, it was announced on December 4, 2012 that Dominick Cruz suffered a second ACL tear that would require surgery, leaving Cruz now sidelined for 6–9 months.
In his first title defense, Barão retained the UFC Interim Bantamweight Championship against Michael McDonald on February 16, 2013 at UFC on Fuel TV: Barao vs. McDonald. McDonald was competitive with capable take-down defense and crisp boxing - particularly - in the first two rounds, but was worn down by Barão's more diverse skill-set as he mixed in knees and kicks standing, and often looked to take the fight to the floor (with success). Upon executing a strong take-down in the fourth round, McDonald tried to explode to his feet but instead gave Barão opportunity to expertly secure an arm-triangle choke while passing into side control: McDonald tapped at 3:57 in the fourth round. The win also won him his first Submission of the Night honors.
Barão was scheduled to make his second interim title defense against Eddie Wineland on June 15, 2013 at UFC 161. However, on May 21 it was confirmed that Barão had pulled out of the bout, citing a foot injury.
The bout with Wineland was rescheduled for September 21, 2013 at UFC 165. Barão retained the title with a second-round TKO victory via spinning back kick and subsequent punches to the face. With this victory Barão made history as the first and only fighter ever to defend an interim title more than once in the UFC. The win also resulted in Barão receiving his first Knockout of the Night bonus award.
UFC Bantamweight Champion
Barão was expected to face Dominick Cruz to unify the UFC Bantamweight Championship on February 1, 2014 at UFC 169. However, on a January 6 episode of SportsCenter, UFC president Dana White announced that Dominick Cruz had torn his groin, therefore being stripped of the UFC Bantamweight Championship, and Barão would become the undisputed UFC Bantamweight Champion, with his first unified title defense against Urijah Faber at UFC 169. Barão successfully defended his title by defeating Faber via TKO in the first round.
For his second title defense, Barão faced T.J. Dillashaw in the main event at UFC 173 on May 24, 2014. Barão was a huge favorite, but Dillashaw won the fight in dominant fashion out striking Barão in all five rounds, Dillashaw won via TKO in the fifth round to become the new UFC Bantamweight Champion. It was one of the greatest upsets of all time. The fight earned the Fight of the Night award.
Back to title contention
An immediate rematch with Dillashaw was scheduled to take place on August 30, 2014 at UFC 177. However, the day of the weigh-ins, Barão had to be admitted to the hospital as a result of his attempts to cut weight, and was removed from the card. Dillashaw eventually fought UFC newcomer Joe Soto whom he defeated by 5th-round knockout.
In his first fight since losing the title, Barão faced Mitch Gagnon on December 20, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 58. He won the fight via arm-triangle submission in the third round. The win also earned Barão his first Performance of the Night bonus award.
A rematch with Dillashaw was rescheduled and was expected to take place on April 25, 2015 at UFC 186. However a month before the event, Dillashaw was forced out of the bout after sustaining a broken rib while training.
The rematch with Dillashaw eventually took place at UFC on Fox 16 on July 25, 2015. Barão lost the fight via TKO in the opening moments of the fourth round.
Move back to Featherweight
Barão next faced Jeremy Stephens in a featherweight bout on May 29, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 88. He lost the back and forth fight by unanimous decision. Both participants were awarded Fight of the Night honors for their performance.
Barão faced Phillipe Nover on September 24, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 95. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Barão was briefly linked to a bout with Doo Ho Choi which was expected to take place on April 15, 2017 at UFC on Fox 24. However, as the announcement of the pairing began to circulate, Choi declined the bout, and as a result, Barao is expected to be rescheduled against a different opponent, possibly at another event.