Renan Barao is scheduled to meet Mitch Gagnon in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 58 in Barueri, Brazil, on Dec. 20, and he believes it’s a matter of time until he faces T.J. Dillashaw one more time.
Barao, who lost his UFC bantamweight title to Dillashaw in May, was forced out of the rematch in August after passing out while cutting weight for UFC 177.
“He’s scared, he don’t want it,” Dillashaw said hours after Barao news became public in August. “His coaches wanted the rematch more than he did.”
“I never ran from anyone,” Barao responded in an interview to MMAFighting.com. “Unfortunately, everything happened the way it happened, but I hope he keeps that title until we meet each other, so I can beat him up and make him stop talking trash.”
Barao has to get past Gagnon before targeting Dillashaw, and he’s not looking past the Canadian grappler.
“We’re working hard so I get there in the Octagon and put on my best performance,” Barao said. “I haven’t changed anything. I try to train everything to be at the top of my game wherever the fight goes. I’m working hard on my wrestling, jiu-jitsu and striking.
“I saw that he’s a jiu-jitsu guy, has a lot of submissions,” he continued. “I think he will try to grapple with me, but I’m a jiu-jitsu black belt and I train with the best in the world. If he wants to grapple with me, no problem at all.”
The only thing Barao will change in his camp for UFC Fight Night 58 is his diet.
“I will control that better, work with a nutritionist,” he said, “so I have no surprises like last time.”
Still ranked at No. 1 in the bantamweight division, the Nova Uniao fighter isn’t bothered with the fact that he’s facing the No. 14 fighter in the UFC rankings.
“I’m cool with it. I don’t pay much attention to rankings,” Barao said. “I will train for the No. 1 or No. 2 exactly like I train with the number 10. No problem. I will focus on doing my best and putting on a show for the fans.
“That’s my goal, fight for the title again,” he continued. “But I don’t think about that now. I’m focused on my next fight. Gagnon is a tough guy, so I’m not looking past him. My goal is to win this fight now.”
Renan Barao is scheduled to meet Mitch Gagnon in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 58 in Barueri, Brazil, on Dec. 20, and he believes it’s a matter of time until he faces T.J. Dillashaw one more time.
Barao, who lost his UFC bantamweight title to Dillashaw in May, was forced out of the rematch in August after passing out while cutting weight for UFC 177.
“He’s scared, he don’t want it,” Dillashaw said hours after Barao news became public in August. “His coaches wanted the rematch more than he did.”
“I never ran from anyone,” Barao responded in an interview to MMAFighting.com. “Unfortunately, everything happened the way it happened, but I hope he keeps that title until we meet each other, so I can beat him up and make him stop talking trash.”
Barao has to get past Gagnon before targeting Dillashaw, and he’s not looking past the Canadian grappler.
“We’re working hard so I get there in the Octagon and put on my best performance,” Barao said. “I haven’t changed anything. I try to train everything to be at the top of my game wherever the fight goes. I’m working hard on my wrestling, jiu-jitsu and striking.
“I saw that he’s a jiu-jitsu guy, has a lot of submissions,” he continued. “I think he will try to grapple with me, but I’m a jiu-jitsu black belt and I train with the best in the world. If he wants to grapple with me, no problem at all.”
The only thing Barao will change in his camp for UFC Fight Night 58 is his diet.
“I will control that better, work with a nutritionist,” he said, “so I have no surprises like last time.”
Still ranked at No. 1 in the bantamweight division, the Nova Uniao fighter isn’t bothered with the fact that he’s facing the No. 14 fighter in the UFC rankings.
“I’m cool with it. I don’t pay much attention to rankings,” Barao said. “I will train for the No. 1 or No. 2 exactly like I train with the number 10. No problem. I will focus on doing my best and putting on a show for the fans.
“That’s my goal, fight for the title again,” he continued. “But I don’t think about that now. I’m focused on my next fight. Gagnon is a tough guy, so I’m not looking past him. My goal is to win this fight now.”
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Anderson Silva could be the latest UFC star to sign a sponsorship deal with Reebok, but he won’t do it just for the money.
The former UFC middleweight kingpin, who was sponsored by Nike in the past, told the media during a press conference in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday that he’s in negotiations with Reebok, who recently signed a deal with the UFC.
“We’re in negotiations with them,” Silva said, who also announced a deal with Viber during the press conference. “We will see what we’re going to do.”
Silva admitted he still “loves” Nike even after they stopped sponsoring him, but would be glad to wear Reebok if the deal makes sense for him.
“If it’s not something good for us, I won’t sign with them,” “The Spider” said. “We have to be happy with the deal, and it has to be financially good for me as well. Everybody knows I was sponsored by Nike and that I always wore Nike. I love Nike. That’s the truth. I feel true to myself when I’m with Nike, so I can’t wear a brand that doesn’t make me feel true to myself. If I feel good with what Reebok offers me, I would definitely use it every day, or I’ll just use it in the Octagon and that’s it.”
The UFC-Reebok deal starts July 2015, and Silva thinks it’s going to be good for the sport.
“I think it’s the evolution of the sport,” Silva said. “Athletes don’t know how it’s going to be yet, but I believe it’s going to be good for the sport. My managers will have a meeting with Reebok, and we’ll know more about it.”
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Anderson Silva could be the latest UFC star to sign a sponsorship deal with Reebok, but he won’t do it just for the money.
The former UFC middleweight kingpin, who was sponsored by Nike in the past, told the media during a press conference in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday that he’s in negotiations with Reebok, who recently signed a deal with the UFC.
“We’re in negotiations with them,” Silva said, who also announced a deal with Viber during the press conference. “We will see what we’re going to do.”
Silva admitted he still “loves” Nike even after they stopped sponsoring him, but would be glad to wear Reebok if the deal makes sense for him.
“If it’s not something good for us, I won’t sign with them,” “The Spider” said. “We have to be happy with the deal, and it has to be financially good for me as well. Everybody knows I was sponsored by Nike and that I always wore Nike. I love Nike. That’s the truth. I feel true to myself when I’m with Nike, so I can’t wear a brand that doesn’t make me feel true to myself. If I feel good with what Reebok offers me, I would definitely use it every day, or I’ll just use it in the Octagon and that’s it.”
The UFC-Reebok deal starts July 2015, and Silva thinks it’s going to be good for the sport.
“I think it’s the evolution of the sport,” Silva said. “Athletes don’t know how it’s going to be yet, but I believe it’s going to be good for the sport. My managers will have a meeting with Reebok, and we’ll know more about it.”
For the first time in his MMA career, Bibiano Fernandes finished a fight after going past the first round, but there’s a reason why Dae Hwan Kim survived that long at ONE FC 23.
The ONE FC bantamweight champion, who improved his winning streak to nine on Dec. 5, submitted Kim with a second-round rear-naked choke. However, he had to overcome a tough situation when Kim landed several illegal elbows to the back of his head in the opening round.
The referee deducted a point, but that didn’t prevent the South Korean fighter from hurting Fernandes.
“I knew everything he would do, except those seven illegal elbows he landed on the back of my head and neck,” Fernandes told MMAFighting.com. “Those elbows shut down my right shoulder, it went numb and I couldn’t move, I couldn’t strike. Between rounds my coach asked me if I broke my hand because I wasn’t punching, and I told him what happened. My neck, my shoulder, I couldn’t move.”
In the second round, Fernandes took Kim’s back and jumped for the choke, scoring his first finish since 2012.
“Thank God I was able to submit that guy,” Fernandes said. “It ended as I was planning. He’s an insolent, he doesn’t respect anyone. He’s like Joe Warren, talks s–t all the time, has a big mouth, so I wanted to finish him.”
Kim earned a shot at the ONE FC gold after building a 10-0-1 record and, according to Fernandes, feeling unbeatable was the reason why he lost in Pasay City, Philippines.
“When a kid like that wins 10 fights, is undefeated and hungry, he makes a lot of mistakes,” “The Flash” said. “I watched his past fights and I saw he opens himself too much while trying to finish the fight, and that’s not a smart thing to do when you’re fighting a guy like me because I’m dangerous on the ground. My jiu-jitsu is top level, and I have many ways to attack you with triangles, armbars, back takes. I wasn’t surprised at all by anything he did on the ground.”
For the first time in his MMA career, Bibiano Fernandes finished a fight after going past the first round, but there’s a reason why Dae Hwan Kim survived that long at ONE FC 23.
The ONE FC bantamweight champion, who improved his winning streak to nine on Dec. 5, submitted Kim with a second-round rear-naked choke. However, he had to overcome a tough situation when Kim landed several illegal elbows to the back of his head in the opening round.
The referee deducted a point, but that didn’t prevent the South Korean fighter from hurting Fernandes.
“I knew everything he would do, except those seven illegal elbows he landed on the back of my head and neck,” Fernandes told MMAFighting.com. “Those elbows shut down my right shoulder, it went numb and I couldn’t move, I couldn’t strike. Between rounds my coach asked me if I broke my hand because I wasn’t punching, and I told him what happened. My neck, my shoulder, I couldn’t move.”
In the second round, Fernandes took Kim’s back and jumped for the choke, scoring his first finish since 2012.
“Thank God I was able to submit that guy,” Fernandes said. “It ended as I was planning. He’s an insolent, he doesn’t respect anyone. He’s like Joe Warren, talks s–t all the time, has a big mouth, so I wanted to finish him.”
Kim earned a shot at the ONE FC gold after building a 10-0-1 record and, according to Fernandes, feeling unbeatable was the reason why he lost in Pasay City, Philippines.
“When a kid like that wins 10 fights, is undefeated and hungry, he makes a lot of mistakes,” “The Flash” said. “I watched his past fights and I saw he opens himself too much while trying to finish the fight, and that’s not a smart thing to do when you’re fighting a guy like me because I’m dangerous on the ground. My jiu-jitsu is top level, and I have many ways to attack you with triangles, armbars, back takes. I wasn’t surprised at all by anything he did on the ground.”
Yancy Medeiros and Heather Clark scored wins at The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale on Dec. 12, but they could be out of action until June.
The Nevada Athletic Commission released the list of official medical suspensions following the Friday nigh…
The Nevada Athletic Commission released the list of official medical suspensions following the Friday night event in Las Vegas, and “The Kid” and “Hurricane” were handed the longest suspensions.
Medeiros, who submitted Joe Proctor in the first round, need clearance of the left third toe, while Clark must have left orbital fracture clearance by an ophthalmologist after a unanimous decision victory over Bec Rawlings.
TUF 20 Finale took place at The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, NV. A complete list of medical suspensions can be seen below.
Rose Namajunas: Suspend until Jan. 12, no contact until Dec. 28 Daron Cruickshank: Must have ophthalmologist clearance before next fight, minimum suspension no contest until Feb. 2, no contact until Jan. 27 Yancy Medeiros: Must have left third toe x-rayed if positive then must have Dr clearance or no contest until June 6 Randa Markos: Suspend until Feb. 11, no contact until Jan. 17 due to right and left eyelid lacerations Lisa Ellis: Suspend until Jan. 12, no contact until Dec. 28 Heather Clark: Must have left orbital fracture clearance by an ophthalmologist or no contest until June 6; minimum suspension no contest until Feb. 11, no contact until Jan. 27 Seo Hee Ham: Suspend until Jan. 12, no contact until Feb. 28 Alex Chambers: Suspend until Jan. 12, no contact until Feb. 28 Emily Kagan: Suspend until Jan. 12, no contact until Jan. 3 due to right eyebrow laceration Tecia Torres: Suspended until Jan. 12 with no contact before Jan. 3
The 36-year-old veteran American Top Team fighter and coach announced on his Instagram that he has signed a contract with the UFC.
“I can’t put in words how I am feeling signing this contract again. Yessssss I am official @ufc @ufcbrasiloficial again. Thanks God, my family, my team, my fans and all those people who believe on me and who didn’t believe too.”
“Jucao” (19-9) was released from the UFC in 2008 after going 2-3 in 17 months, and returns to the Octagon after winning the BattleGrounds MMA one-night welterweight tournament in October, with victories over Brock Larson (decision), Trey Houston (TKO) and Randall Wallace (submission).
After winning the tournament, Carneiro told MMAFighting.com his goal was to return to the UFC.
“I’d love to finish some business over there,” he said. “In my mind, I beat Ryo Chonan, it was my last fight in the UFC in my town, Atlanta, and I lost by split decision but, in my mind, I beat him.”
“I’m training with many UFC fighters, of many weight divisions, and I’m still doing (well). Imagine if I had one performance like I had Friday night in the UFC,” he added. “I’m excited to show the world I can do some good things in that (UFC) cage. I just didn’t have the opportunity to show them I can do it, and it’s now late. I’m going to do it.”
A photo posted by jucao21 (@jucao21) on Dec 12, 2014 at 6:11pm PST
Roan Carneiro is back to the UFC.
The 36-year-old veteran American Top Team fighter and coach announced on his Instagram that he has signed a contract with the UFC.
“I can’t put in words how I am feeling signing this contract again. Yessssss I am official @ufc @ufcbrasiloficial again. Thanks God, my family, my team, my fans and all those people who believe on me and who didn’t believe too.”
“Jucao” (19-9) was released from the UFC in 2008 after going 2-3 in 17 months, and returns to the Octagon after winning the BattleGrounds MMA one-night welterweight tournament in October, with victories over Brock Larson (decision), Trey Houston (TKO) and Randall Wallace (submission).
After winning the tournament, Carneiro told MMAFighting.com his goal was to return to the UFC.
“I’d love to finish some business over there,” he said. “In my mind, I beat Ryo Chonan, it was my last fight in the UFC in my town, Atlanta, and I lost by split decision but, in my mind, I beat him.”
“I’m training with many UFC fighters, of many weight divisions, and I’m still doing (well). Imagine if I had one performance like I had Friday night in the UFC,” he added. “I’m excited to show the world I can do some good things in that (UFC) cage. I just didn’t have the opportunity to show them I can do it, and it’s now late. I’m going to do it.”
RIO DE JANEIRO — Darren Elkins has won seven out of nine fights since cutting down to the featherweight division, but Hacran Dias is not a fan of his fighting style.
Elkins, who recently defeated Lucas Martins at UFC 179 in Rio de Janeiro on Oct. 25, returns to Brazil on Dec. 20 to face Dias at UFC Fight Night 58 in Barueri, Sao Paulo, and the Nova Uniao fighter expects Elkins to do what he always does.
“I will be aggressive all the time. My goal is not let him do his game,” Dias said. “I’ve seen his fights, and his game is always the same. He fights using the rules, takes you down close to the fence and does nothing, and my goal is to stop his game. He did that against (Lucas Martins), and everybody saw a boring fight. He basically doesn’t do anything in his fights.”
Dias hasn’t won a fight since his UFC debut in 2012. The Brazilian fighter knows his back is against the wall after consecutive decision losses to Nik Lentz and Ricardo Lamas, but being 1-2 in the UFC is not on his mind.
“I got rid of that pressure,” “Barnabe” said. “I always fought top level opponents, and I think I could have fought more to get some experience first. I lost my fights by details.”
Dias’ only win inside the Octagon came against Iuri Alcantara. After that bout, he was booked to meet former title contender Chad Mendes and Japanese star Tatsuya Kawajiri, but had to withdraw with injuries.
The Nova Uniao featherweight believes that facing tough competition since entering the UFC is the reason why he’s 1-2.
“If I had started facing guys from the bottom instead of top contenders… I’m not complaining, fighting the best was good for me, but I think I lacked some experience to get the wins,” Dias said. “Ever since I got in the UFC, they are giving me fights against tough opponents. I only fought well-ranked guys. But that’s great, even if I’m coming off two losses. I’m training hard for almost three months so there’s no risk and I come out with the win.”
RIO DE JANEIRO — Darren Elkins has won seven out of nine fights since cutting down to the featherweight division, but Hacran Dias is not a fan of his fighting style.
Elkins, who recently defeated Lucas Martins at UFC 179 in Rio de Janeiro on Oct. 25, returns to Brazil on Dec. 20 to face Dias at UFC Fight Night 58 in Barueri, Sao Paulo, and the Nova Uniao fighter expects Elkins to do what he always does.
“I will be aggressive all the time. My goal is not let him do his game,” Dias said. “I’ve seen his fights, and his game is always the same. He fights using the rules, takes you down close to the fence and does nothing, and my goal is to stop his game. He did that against (Lucas Martins), and everybody saw a boring fight. He basically doesn’t do anything in his fights.”
Dias hasn’t won a fight since his UFC debut in 2012. The Brazilian fighter knows his back is against the wall after consecutive decision losses to Nik Lentz and Ricardo Lamas, but being 1-2 in the UFC is not on his mind.
“I got rid of that pressure,” “Barnabe” said. “I always fought top level opponents, and I think I could have fought more to get some experience first. I lost my fights by details.”
Dias’ only win inside the Octagon came against Iuri Alcantara. After that bout, he was booked to meet former title contender Chad Mendes and Japanese star Tatsuya Kawajiri, but had to withdraw with injuries.
The Nova Uniao featherweight believes that facing tough competition since entering the UFC is the reason why he’s 1-2.
“If I had started facing guys from the bottom instead of top contenders… I’m not complaining, fighting the best was good for me, but I think I lacked some experience to get the wins,” Dias said. “Ever since I got in the UFC, they are giving me fights against tough opponents. I only fought well-ranked guys. But that’s great, even if I’m coming off two losses. I’m training hard for almost three months so there’s no risk and I come out with the win.”
