Coach admits indecision regarding Barão’s future weight

In his last fight, Barão had to use a towel to make weight. Photo: Reproduction

Dedo Pederneiras, head coach and manager of Renan Barao, admitted that he still doesn't know in which weight category his pupil will fight in his next engagement in the UFC Octagon. The coach, leader of the Nova União academy, stated that he is still studying the various factors surrounding the issue, and a decision has not yet been made.

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In his last fight, Barão lost for the second time to the current UFC bantamweight champion, TJ Dillashaw, which leaves him far from a new title fight. Furthermore, the fighter recently had serious difficulties in reaching the weight limit for the category, 61 kg, which even forced him to withdraw from a fight with the same Dillashaw in August last year.

In a press conference reproduced by the “MMA Fighting” website, Pederneiras is still considering the possibility of Barão moving up to featherweight, whose limit is 66 kg. “Barão moving up in weight or not depends on some factors that I can’t say right now. Is there a possibility? Yes. But there is also the possibility of him staying [in the roosters]. We are studying several things that are happening, so we will see,” he explained.

According to Pederneiras, an argument that has weight in the issue is the prohibition of rehydration through intravenous fluid, which makes it difficult to regain weight after an exhausting cut. “This is a factor that can force you to gain weight. This is a factor, and we are studying it”, he continued.

Barão was the UFC's bantamweight champion between January and May 2014. The champion of the top category is José Aldo, his teammate at Nova União.