J. Aldo (photo) faces C. Mendes in August. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
In recent months, just before losing the bantamweight title to TJ Dillashaw, Renan Barao He became one of the athletes most praised by Ultimate President Dana White, who never tired of repeating how impressive the Brazilian's resume was and his performances inside the Octagon. Praise from the head of the organization can serve as an incentive, but it can also harm the athlete's concentration. This is the opinion of the featherweight champion José Aldo, Barão's teammate at Nova União, and who believes that the native of Rio Grande do Norte may have underestimated Dillashaw's skills before UFC 173.
“Renan was well prepared, of course the guy was well trained too, but Dillashaw surprised him. Barão could have been better physically, mentally, in everything, but he didn't expect the way Dillashaw fought. Like it or not, let's say that Barão was more relaxed than in other fights, he thought he was going to go in there as champion, throw a punch and get a knockout. He didn't have the feet on the ground to keep his head straight. Days before the fight, Dana White said that Barão was the best pound-for-pound in the world, he knocked out everyone and that may have made him look down on Dillashaw a little, who arrived with humility and showed how things work, said the man from Manaus , in an interview with the radio program “Mundo da Luta”.
If for Aldo there was humility on the part of Dillashaw in the Octagon, there was a lack of prudence on the part of Dillashaw's athletes. Team Alpha Male, the new champion's team in the United States, who published some jokes after the triumph, such as Barão's enrollment in a Muay Thai seminar taught by the team's coach Duane Ludwig. “I think it’s a lack of respect. We always beat them, Faber always lost to us and we never provoked them. We always respect the guys. We always try to help them, they already came to the gym, we helped, there was never any disrespect on our part towards him. But calm. Let's be patient, we'll meet again. I have a challenge with Chad, and Barão, God willing, will face Dillashaw again and we will get it back”, he guaranteed.
On August 2th, José Aldo puts at stake the only belt still held by a Brazilian athlete in the UFC. On that date, in Los Angeles (USA), Manauara meets again Chad Mendes in a featherweight title clash. The duel is the main fight of UFC 176. Aldo and Mendes already faced each other in January 2012, with the Brazilian winning by knockout in the first round, after landing a well-aimed knee on his opponent. As famous as the blow that gave Aldo victory was the champion's celebration after his triumph at UFC Rio 2. On that occasion, he left the octagon mounted on the Barra Arena and ran into the arms of the audience.
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