Renan Barao wanted to send an emphatic message to the UFC Bantamweight division in what was his 29th career fight against Brad “One Punch” Pickett. That message was that he was more of a real threat to Dominick Cruz‘s UFC Bantamweight Championship title than people gave him credit for.
Not just anyone could create a slugfest with Pickett, getting the better of him in most of the only exchanges of the bout: Tiger Knee the chin of Pickett a la Sagat from Street Fighter; swarm on him with follow-up punches; and crush the face of Pickett on a rear naked choke attempt.
Barao did all of that against a gamer in the WEC veteran.
The scary thing about the way he handled Pickett throughout the bout is that Barao implemented what is arguably the exact game plan needed to not only immobilize the champion Cruz, but to also neutralize his elusive offense, hurt him badly on the feet and finish him without hesitation.
Barao landed the cleaner shots on the feet and basically outclassed Pickett before finally landing that big knee to drop Pickett and beautifully execute the chin crush that was intended to be a rear naked choke.
So that poses the question:
If Barao could implement that sort of punishment on Pickett, and if he can work some similar magic against either of the last five men to fight Cruz—meaning he draws Urijah Faber, Brian Bowles, Joseph Benavidez, Demetrious Johnson, or Scott Jorgensen next, and defeats them in a manner not unlike his win over Pickett—what would honestly make us think that Cruz would fare any better against Barao?
The simple truth is that, like him or not, Cruz is good, but on his best day, it may not be enough. Barao can exercise the tools he has to beat Cruz in his own realm and prove that he is in fact better than the champ.
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