Former UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao cutting down from 160 pounds the week of his featherweight debut

It’s no secret that former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight champion Renan Barao has had difficulties cutting weight in the past.

He most notably had to pull out of his championship rematch with T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 177 after fainting during his cut to 135 pounds. After that horrendous display of dietary control, Barao fought just two more times as a bantamweight, defeating Mitch Gagnon via submission at UFC Fight Night 58 and losing to Dillashaw via TKO in their eventual rematch at UFC on FOX 16.

Well, it now seems as if the 29-year-old Brazilian may run into some trouble leading into his Featherweight debut opposite hard-hitting Jeremy Stephens this Sunday (May 29, 2016) at UFC Fight Night 88 live on FOX Sports 1 from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

ESPN’s Brett Okamoto revealed via Twitter that Barao weighed in at 160 pounds earlier this week:

Renan Barao … He weighed approximately 160 during official check in earlier this week. UFC 145 pound debut. pic.twitter.com/1dXrceGkeQ

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) May 27, 2016

First off, this is proof that Barao had to absolutely destroy his body to make the 135-pound bantamweight limit in the past. It also makes you wonder how difficult “The Baron” is making it for himself leading into his debut in an entirely different division.

While Barao will most likely make the 146-pound Featherweight limit later today (Sat., May 28, 2016) at the weigh ins, he’s seemingly still having issues keeping the weight off.

UFC Fight Night 88 will be headlined by a Bantamweight scrap between rising contenders Thomas Almeida and Cody Garbrandt.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Fight Night 88 fight card on fight night (click here), starting with the Fight Pass “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET, and then the remaining undercard balance on FOX Sports 1 at 7 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 9 p.m. ET, also on FOX Sports 1.

For much more on this weekend’s UFC Fight Night 88 event click here.

It’s no secret that former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight champion Renan Barao has had difficulties cutting weight in the past.

He most notably had to pull out of his championship rematch with T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 177 after fainting during his cut to 135 pounds. After that horrendous display of dietary control, Barao fought just two more times as a bantamweight, defeating Mitch Gagnon via submission at UFC Fight Night 58 and losing to Dillashaw via TKO in their eventual rematch at UFC on FOX 16.

Well, it now seems as if the 29-year-old Brazilian may run into some trouble leading into his Featherweight debut opposite hard-hitting Jeremy Stephens this Sunday (May 29, 2016) at UFC Fight Night 88 live on FOX Sports 1 from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

ESPN’s Brett Okamoto revealed via Twitter that Barao weighed in at 160 pounds earlier this week:

First off, this is proof that Barao had to absolutely destroy his body to make the 135-pound bantamweight limit in the past. It also makes you wonder how difficult “The Baron” is making it for himself leading into his debut in an entirely different division.

While Barao will most likely make the 146-pound Featherweight limit later today (Sat., May 28, 2016) at the weigh ins, he’s seemingly still having issues keeping the weight off.

UFC Fight Night 88 will be headlined by a Bantamweight scrap between rising contenders Thomas Almeida and Cody Garbrandt.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Fight Night 88 fight card on fight night (click here), starting with the Fight Pass “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET, and then the remaining undercard balance on FOX Sports 1 at 7 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 9 p.m. ET, also on FOX Sports 1.

For much more on this weekend’s UFC Fight Night 88 event click here.