Barão sees himself as superior to Dillashaw: 'If he takes me down, there's a big risk of being finished'

Barão, during a hangout with fans. Photo: Reproduction/Google+

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Renan Barao already knows the path to victory in his next fight, when he will defend the UFC bantamweight belt against TJ Dillashaw this Saturday (24), in the main fight of UFC 173 in Las Vegas (United States).

The Brazilian, who is making his second defense of the category's linear belt, believes that both standing up and on the ground he has the best conditions to define the fight. Barão admitted that Dillashaw is strong in the takedown game, but that, other than that, he sees himself as far superior to his rival.

“TJ is a tough guy, he comes from wrestling, but he's improving a lot in his stand-up. I think his strength is wrestling and now he's looking to do stand-up fighting. I think I'm much superior to him when it comes to standing up", said Barão, during Hangout with fans promoted by UFC on the social network Google +. “[His weak point] is standing up or on the ground. I think I have a much better ground game than him and that, if he tries to take me down, he runs a great risk of being submitted.”

Precisely because of Dillashaw's characteristics, Barão paid special attention to his takedown game. “I've been doing what I've always done in other fights. I placed greater emphasis on the wrestling part, defending takedowns, and standing up, so I could surprise at any moment,” he said.

Barão talked about his weight loss process before the weigh-in, which will take place in the early evening of Friday (23). “Weight loss is a bit painful. We get dehydrated, we don’t eat well. It's a little rough, but I'm feeling much better than I did before. I’m very calm and, God willing, I’ll hit the category limit and everything will be fine,” he declared.

Despite admitting that he struggles to make weight, Barão has no plans to move up a category immediately. “In reality, it’s not me who decides this, but Jair Lourenço and André Pederneiras [his coaches]. Whatever is best for the team is what will happen. If I have to stay [in the roosters], I have a lot of wood to burn in this category. But, if one day it has to go up, that will be the best thing that will happen,” he said.

Barão and Dillashaw are in the main fight of UFC 173, which also features a meeting between light heavyweights Dan Henderson e Daniel Cormier, in addition to the fight between welterweights Jake ellenberger e Robbie Lawler.

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