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Former UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao is headed to a new promotion.
After nine years spent in the Octagon, former UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao is headed to a new home, at least for three more fights. Per MMA Fighting, the 33-year-old signed a three-fight contract with Brazilian promotion Taura MMA.
Taura MMA has gathered some buzz over the past few days for picking up a number of UFC vets for its roster, such as Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva, Efrain Escudero, and Rousimar Palhares, among others. According to Combate’s report, Barao is scheduled to have his debut on November 21, against an undisclosed opponent, in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
During his time in the UFC, Renan Barao (34-9-1 NC) defeated some of the best bantamweights in his day, such as Urijah Faber, Michael McDonald, Eddie Wineland, Scott Jorgensen, and Brad Pickett.
The Brazilian lost his belt to T.J. Dillashaw back in 2014 and ended up leaving the UFC on a five-fight losing skid. His overall record with the promotion is 9-8, after dropping a unanimous decision to Douglas Andrade in his last outing, in November 2019.
Taura MMA is scheduled to resume its calendar on October 23, but it will hold its first ever foreign card a week later, on October 30. That event is expected to take place in Kissimmee, Florida, and will mark the debuts of UFC vets Rousimar Palhares, Antonio Silva, William Macario and Guto Inocente.
Furthermore, former The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3 contender and current Taura MMA light heavyweight champion Richardson Moreira is scheduled to headline the card, against an opponent yet to be determined.