Barao thought he beat Stephens, won’t be returning to bantamweight anytime soon

Barao thought he beat Jeremy Stephens at UFC Fight Night 88 and says he’s feeling ‘really strong’ at featherweight.

Although Renan Barao had a historic run at bantamweight, the former UFC 135-pound champion has no intentions of returning to the division anytime soon.

Barao, who lost the BW title to T.J. Dillashaw, made his featherweight debut against Jeremy Stephens at UFC Fight Night 88 and lost a unanimous decision. Both men stood in the pocket for three rounds but it was ‘Lil’ Heathen’ who landed the cleaner, heavier shots.

Barao, though, thinks he won the fight but is will willing to move on and break into the top-15 with a win over Phillipe Nover at UFC Brasilia on Saturday.

“I thought it was a great fight, a really tough fight,” Barao told FOX Sports in a recent interview. “A lot of people, myself included, thought that I won. That’s what it comes down to when you fight to a decision, but I thought it was a really good, a really tough fight.”

“I’m feeling really good, really strong in this weight class. That’s because I don’t have to suffer like I was suffering in the past with the weight loss. I was having difficulty recovering after the weight cut, which I believe affected my performances. I’m feeling really good and really strong at featherweight.”

Barao has struggled with cutting weight in the past, as the Brazilian was forced to withdraw from his originally scheduled rematch with Dillashaw at UFC 177 due to a weight cut that left him hospitalized.

The 29-year-old says he feels much better at featherweight and plans to stay put for the time being.

“For now yeah,” Barao answered when asked if he was done at bantamweight. “I’m feeling really good at featherweight and I hope to move a few steps up in the rankings.”

His opponent Nover, a 32-year-old Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, had a two-year stint with the UFC after making it to the finals of The Ultimate Fighter series 8 and resigned with the promotion in 2015. The New York-based fighter is 4-1 in his last 5.

Barao vs. Nover, which will feature as the co-main event of UFC Fight Night: Cyborg vs. Lansberg, takes place tomorrow night, September 24, at Ginásio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia, Brazil.

Barao thought he beat Jeremy Stephens at UFC Fight Night 88 and says he’s feeling ‘really strong’ at featherweight.

Although Renan Barao had a historic run at bantamweight, the former UFC 135-pound champion has no intentions of returning to the division anytime soon.

Barao, who lost the BW title to T.J. Dillashaw, made his featherweight debut against Jeremy Stephens at UFC Fight Night 88 and lost a unanimous decision. Both men stood in the pocket for three rounds but it was ‘Lil’ Heathen’ who landed the cleaner, heavier shots.

Barao, though, thinks he won the fight but is will willing to move on and break into the top-15 with a win over Phillipe Nover at UFC Brasilia on Saturday.

“I thought it was a great fight, a really tough fight,” Barao told FOX Sports in a recent interview. “A lot of people, myself included, thought that I won. That’s what it comes down to when you fight to a decision, but I thought it was a really good, a really tough fight.”

“I’m feeling really good, really strong in this weight class. That’s because I don’t have to suffer like I was suffering in the past with the weight loss. I was having difficulty recovering after the weight cut, which I believe affected my performances. I’m feeling really good and really strong at featherweight.”

Barao has struggled with cutting weight in the past, as the Brazilian was forced to withdraw from his originally scheduled rematch with Dillashaw at UFC 177 due to a weight cut that left him hospitalized.

The 29-year-old says he feels much better at featherweight and plans to stay put for the time being.

“For now yeah,” Barao answered when asked if he was done at bantamweight. “I’m feeling really good at featherweight and I hope to move a few steps up in the rankings.”

His opponent Nover, a 32-year-old Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, had a two-year stint with the UFC after making it to the finals of The Ultimate Fighter series 8 and resigned with the promotion in 2015. The New York-based fighter is 4-1 in his last 5.

Barao vs. Nover, which will feature as the co-main event of UFC Fight Night: Cyborg vs. Lansberg, takes place tomorrow night, September 24, at Ginásio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia, Brazil.