Renan Barao vs. T.J. Dillashaw II is set for UFC 177 in Sacramento

LAS VEGAS – It might not come as music to Raphael Assuncao’s ears, but the rematch between Renan Barao and T.J. Dillashaw is set to take place at UFC 177 in Sacramento on August 30. UFC president Dana White made the announcement during a special edition of UFC Tonight on Friday afternoon after the UFC 175 weigh-ins.

Against great odds, Dillashaw dethroned the Brazilian champion Barao at UFC 173 on May 24. Though the 28-year old Dillashaw fighter was a 6-to-1 underdog on some books, he controlled the fight from the opening bell, and scored a shocking TKO victory in the fifth round with a head kick and follow-up punches. The loss was Barao’s first since his first professional bout in 2005, a streak that spanned 33 fights.

Since losing his belt there has been much debate as to whether Barao — who defended the interim/real bantamweight title three times before the loss — would get an automatic rematch with Dillashaw. Assuncao, who was originally pegged to face Barao but was unable to go with an injury, scored a narrow split-decision victory over Dillashaw in October 2013 in Brazil. One of the points of contention was that Dillashaw’s victory over Barao was one-sided enough to welcome a new challenge.

The rematch will take place at the Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, which is home to Team Alpha Male, where Dillashaw trains with the likes of Urijah Faber, Chad Mendes and Joseph Benavidez. Tickets for the event go on sale on Friday, July 18.

LAS VEGAS – It might not come as music to Raphael Assuncao’s ears, but the rematch between Renan Barao and T.J. Dillashaw is set to take place at UFC 177 in Sacramento on August 30. UFC president Dana White made the announcement during a special edition of UFC Tonight on Friday afternoon after the UFC 175 weigh-ins.

Against great odds, Dillashaw dethroned the Brazilian champion Barao at UFC 173 on May 24. Though the 28-year old Dillashaw fighter was a 6-to-1 underdog on some books, he controlled the fight from the opening bell, and scored a shocking TKO victory in the fifth round with a head kick and follow-up punches. The loss was Barao’s first since his first professional bout in 2005, a streak that spanned 33 fights.

Since losing his belt there has been much debate as to whether Barao — who defended the interim/real bantamweight title three times before the loss — would get an automatic rematch with Dillashaw. Assuncao, who was originally pegged to face Barao but was unable to go with an injury, scored a narrow split-decision victory over Dillashaw in October 2013 in Brazil. One of the points of contention was that Dillashaw’s victory over Barao was one-sided enough to welcome a new challenge.

The rematch will take place at the Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, which is home to Team Alpha Male, where Dillashaw trains with the likes of Urijah Faber, Chad Mendes and Joseph Benavidez. Tickets for the event go on sale on Friday, July 18.