Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
Renan Barao, who was named the new UFC bantamweight champion after yet another injury to Dominick Cruz, considers himself the true title holder even without having faced the North American.
The fight between the two was scheduled for UFC 169, in February, but a groin injury to Cruz canceled the fight again. With that, “The Dominator” gave up his title, which went to Barão, until then interim champion.
The Brazilian regretted what happened and declared that he had been waiting for a confrontation with Cruz for a long time. “I'm sad that he got hurt. I was training and waiting for this fight since the WEC days. I hope he recovers soon, but I don't think I have to fight him to prove that I'm the real champion,” he said, according to the North American website MMA Fighting.
Your new opponent will be Urijah faber, who he already beat in 2012, precisely to win the interim title. However, Barão considers that his opponent is a different fighter than the one he faced two years ago. “I believe that choosing Faber to face me was a fair decision. He's one of the best in my category and has evolved a lot since we fought. He will do his best in the fight, just like me,” he commented.
Barão acknowledged that he will have to change his strategy with the change of opponent. “I have to put together a new strategy with my coaches, because Faber’s style is different from Cruz’s. He's slower, but he's very tough and can take a lot of punishment while standing. He has evolved a lot since our fight in this aspect, but I'm ready for anything”, he trusts.
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