Barão's coach reveals 'total expectation' for a rematch against Dillashaw in Rio

Dedé Pederneiras (photo) was a cornerman Shoe Face at TUF Brazil 3 Final. Photo: Bruno Ferreira/SUPER FIGHTS

Since Renan Barao was surprisingly defeated by TJ Dillashaw at UFC 163, on May 24th, speculation about a possible rematch began. Dueling with your compatriot Raphael Assunção for the position of first challenger to the new champion, Barão has a good chance of meeting his tormentor again in Rio de Janeiro, where he lives and trains at the Nova União gym, in October, at UFC 179. In an exclusive interview with SUPER FIGHTS, Barão's coach, Dedé Pederneiras, stated that he considers this the ideal scenario and the team's main goal for the coming months.

When asked about the matter, Dedé was direct. “We have full expectations (that Barão will have a rematch against Dillashaw at UFC Rio 5). That’s what we want”, said the coach, who also analyzed his pupil’s defeat to the North American. “We have to congratulate TJ (Dillashaw), he did very well that day. I don't know if he'll be as good in the next fight as he was in the first. I think that hand that came in, that knockdown, I think that decided the fight, regardless of whether it didn't end there”, he added.

The leader of Nova União also spoke about training with Antonio Shoe Guy, TUF champion and who prepared the team for the victory over Vitor miranda in the decision of the reality show – last Saturday (31). “The opportunity to coach him was pretty cool. O Shoe Face He is a great fighter and very dedicated. Thank God everything went well, the fight was good and we were able to fully implement the game strategy, which was to put pressure on Vitor, not worry about getting in all the time and being able to get his hand in. And that's what he managed to do. Control from above all the time and successfully put the fight down. With that, he won the fight,” he concluded.

Check out Dedé Pederneiras' full interview with SUPER LUTAS below:

SUPER FIGHTS: How do you see the preparation of the Shoe Face and how was the opportunity to train him for the TUF Brazil final?

DEDÉ PEDERNEIRAS: The opportunity to train was really cool, the Shoe Face He is a great fighter and very dedicated. Thank God everything went well, the fight was good and we were able to fully implement the game strategy, which was to put pressure on Vitor, not worry about getting in all the time and being able to get his hand in. And that's what he managed to do. Control from above all the time and successfully put the fight down. With that, he won the fight.

SL: And now that more than a week has passed, how do you analyze Barão's fight at UFC 173 and what do you think can be improved in his game?

DP: In fact, we have to congratulate TJ (Dillashaw), he did very well that day. I don't know if he'll be as good in the next fight as he was in the first. I think that hand that came in, that knockdown, I think that decided the fight, regardless of whether it didn't end there. It may have lasted until the end, but he (Barão) couldn't come to his senses, he was quite dizzy and a bit disoriented, to the point where he asked me from the fourth to the fifth round if he was winning the fight. So, I mean, some of the instructions we gave him he couldn't understand very well and it was a matter of time before what ended up happening in the fifth round.

SL: Barão hasn't lost since his MMA debut, more than nine years ago, how is he dealing with that?

DP:He got upset. Now he is getting better and better. Time passes and the wound heals, so to speak. And now just think ahead.

SL: What happened makes you rethink something in relation to the fight of José Aldo, which is also against an athlete from Team Alpha Male. Could this start an even bigger rivalry?

DP:We see it more as a competition. Whether it's Team Alpha Male or anyone else, we don't worry so much about the team. We worry about the belt, which belongs to Brazil and is the last one. So we're more concerned about that than any kind of rivalry.

SL: But it will change something in Aldo's preparation for the fight against Chad Mendes?

DP:We train everything. We are always trying to improve and we really hope that Mendes will try to take Aldo to the ground, but also that he will try to exchange a little more.

SL: And how do you see the evolution of Chad Mendes since Duane Ludwig arrived at Alpha Male?

DP: The boys there have gained a lot of confidence, especially in the standing part, and are taking more risks, for sure.

SL: Is there any kind of expectation on the part of Nova União and Barão for a possible rematch against Dillashaw in Rio (in October, at UFC 179)?

DP:Total expectation! That's what we want.

SL: And in relation to TUF 19 (in which you are an assistant coach for BJ Penn's team), how do you evaluate the experience of participating in the program?

DP:It was a cool participation, but if you asked me if I would do another TUF, my answer would probably be no. Mainly outside Brazil. I had to take my whole family, so it was even more complicated. And this confinement in the house, not that I was literally confined there, but being with people who are confined all day, ends up not being a very nice situation. Seeing the guy's tiredness and knowing that he's going to train and return to a closed space. Furthermore, friction is beginning to exist between them. So I'd rather not do it again.