Dillashaw evaluates Barão's game: 'He doesn't have a wide range of shots'

Dillashaw (photo) meets Barão again, now as champion, at the end of August. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

TJ Dillashaw considers that it had an advantage over Renan Barao at UFC 173, in May, due to the fact that he understood the Brazilian's game well. On that occasion, the North American won the bantamweight belt after dominating Barão for four and a half rounds, obtaining a technical knockout in the final period.

According to the champion, Barão's striking game has a limitation when it comes to variety. “I had a strategy in my head and I stuck to it. Duane [Ludwig, his coach] and I came up with something that we thought could beat him. He did what I expected him to do, with the same combinations he uses in every fight. He doesn’t have a wide variety of moves”, said Dillashaw, in an interview with the English magazine “Fighters Only”.

With the rematch between the two already scheduled for August 30th, at UFC 177, Dillashaw seemed comfortable with the spotlight, which he had already noticed in the May fight. “Obviously, the usual nervousness was there, but it was nothing out of the ordinary. I actually liked this whole situation. I loved the fact that we were getting a little more attention because it was the main fight of the night. The goal is to achieve that attention, because it means I got there. Now, I look forward to this happening more often in the future,” he said.

TJ Dillashaw e Renan Barao will be the main fight of UFC 177, which will also feature another title fight, with Demetrious Johnson x Chris Cariaso fighting for the flyweight title.