Confident, coach says Renan Barão is ready to regain UFC belt

Barão (left) was dominated by Dillashaw (right) at UFC 173. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

In April, Renan Barao will have another chance to regain the UFC bantamweight belt. The Brazilian, former holder of the belt in the under-61 kg division, will have a rematch against his tormentor TJ Dillashaw at UFC 186. Although the first meeting between the two was largely dominated by the North American, Barão's coach, Dedé Pederneiras, is confident that, this time, the story will be different.

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The leader of the Nova União academy highlighted Barão's strong psychological aspect and assured that the athlete is prepared to get back at Dillashaw. “Renan is in great shape, ready to get his belt back. Let's change a few things, not much in terms of training. We will change our strategy so as not to play the same game as last time. If that first punch hadn't landed, the fight would have been different. Just wait and see how it goes. We are sure the result will be different this time. In the first fight, TJ's performance at that level was certainly a surprise”, analyzed Pederneiras, in an interview with the “Combate” channel website.

Barão returned from the defeat he suffered against Dillashaw in December, when he defeated Mitch Gagnon at the UFC in Barueri (SP). Despite finishing the fight, the former champion had his performance criticized. Pederneiras replied: “Barão came from a defeat and fought in Brazil, which is a lot of pressure. He played so as not to make mistakes. People say they didn't like his fight, but I sat down with him and told him to analyze: in the first round, he gave knockdown and had a chance to finish. In the second, Gagnon blocked him against the fence and didn't let him do anything. In the third, he had the chance to finish and took it. I don't know what the public expects from an athlete who was successful on fight day. If we take the three rounds, it gives knockdown in the first, in the second it is stopped and in the third it ends. I can’t understand what people expect”, he countered.

the fight between Renan Barao e TJ Dillashaw will headline UFC 186, which will take place on April 25 in Montreal, Canada.

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