Fans can lull themselves to sleep with talk of controversy or proverbial screwjobs, but at the end of the day, Renan Barao is simply a better fighter than Urijah Faber.
The bantamweight champ defeated Faber for a second time in the main event of UFC 16…
Fans can lull themselves to sleep with talk of controversy or proverbial screwjobs, but at the end of the day, RenanBarao is simply a better fighter than Urijah Faber.
The bantamweight champ defeated Faber for a second time in the main event of UFC 169 on Saturday night. However, this time the bout ended with a questionable TKO stoppage instead of a lopsided unanimous decision.
All of the talk leading up to the rematch dwelled on Faber’s monumental improvements in striking and the possibility of him finally closing the gap with Barao. But when the two actually met in the middle of the cage, the bout was nothing more than a continuation of the first fight.
Barao once again proved to be the more fluid and dynamic striker, dropping Faber early in the first round with a straight right hand. “The California Kid” fought tooth and nail to get back to his feet, but he was never able to stave off Barao’s unrelenting attack. Another right hand from the Brazilian sent Faber crashing back down to the mat once more.
Like a bloodhound, Barao pounced on Faber’s side and began unloading a series of hammerfists. Stuck in belly-down side control, Faber chose to hang out in the position and use his free hand to block Barao’s strikes. He even gave referee Herb Dean a thumb’s up to let him know he was OK and still in the fight.
Unfortunately, the signal was in Dean’s blindspot, and the longtime MMA ref made the decision to step in and stop the fight at 3:42 in the first round.
“It’s very frustrating,” Faber told UFC commentator Joe Rogan after the fight. “I’m one of the most durable guys in the world. You get caught with punches. He told me to do something, so I gave him a thumbs up right before he stopped it. Herb is a great referee. I just wish I would have had more of a chance.”
In a sport enamored with controversy, fans have seemingly wiped the slate clean of Barao’s performance leading up to the finish. He dropped Faber twice and had him wobbled in three exchanges. It was yet another picture-perfect performance from one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
This isn’t to suggest that some degree of sympathy isn’t warranted for the premature stoppage. Faber was obviously conscious, and Dean had a clear visual of the strikes being blocked. Perhaps his decision was swayed by all of the wobbly exchanges.
Regardless, it’s pretty sad to hear boos echo throughout the arena when Barao’s name was called in the end, as if he was somehow gifted a victory. Faber didn’t show anything to suggest he was in that fight any more than the first bout.
The MMA world was infatuated with Faber’s 2013 run, with wins over Michael McDonald, IuriAlcantara, Scott Jorgensen and Ivan Menjivar. Saturday night was just a hard dose of reality served to those eager to ride the coattails of hype.
Faber may be a much-improved fighter, but there is only one RenanBarao.
At UFC 169 in Newark, N.J., Renan Barao scored a first-round TKO victory over champion Urijah Faber to retain his UFC bantamweight title.
But the stoppage did not come without some controversy, with Faber saying in the cage after the fight that he beli…
At UFC 169 in Newark, N.J., RenanBarao scored a first-round TKO victory over champion Urijah Faber to retain his UFC bantamweight title.
But the stoppage did not come without some controversy, with Faber saying in the cage after the fight that he believed he was fit to continue and had attempted to signal that belief to the referee.
After a fairly even first two minutes, Barao dropped Faber with a massive straight right hand that was plainly audible to television viewers. Faber survived an ensuing swarm of ground-and-pound and staggered to his feet but did not get the better of the wild stand-up exchanges that followed.
A big overhand right put Faber down again. This time, Faber turtled up completely, covering his head against a storm of hammerfists from Barao. Barao turned down the steam a half-notch and looked up at referee Herb Dean, seeming to wonder when the stoppage would come. A few seconds later, Dean waved off the contest.
All class in defeat but clearly frustrated, Faber told broadcaster Joe Rogan in the cage after the fight that he disagreed with the stoppage.
“It’s very frustrating,” Faber said. “I’m one of the most durable guys in the world. He told me to do something, so I gave him a thumbs-up. Herb is a great referee. I just wish I would have had more of a chance.”
Faber also sent this tweet after the fight:
Whelp! Back to the drawing board. Thanks for all the support folks. Congrats to @RenanBaraoUFC
Faber also added that he was holding on to Barao‘s leg. But because of Faber’s turtled appearance and Barao‘s preceding rain of punishment, Dean and anyone else appears to have a case that a stoppage in that moment, at worst, appeared to only expedite the inevitable.
The win marks Barao‘s first defense of the UFC lineal bantamweight championship. Barao dropped the “interim” prefix from his business card after Dominick Cruz relinquished his belt because of an extended injury layoff.
Barao earned the interim title in July 2012 with a defeat of the very same Faber at UFC 149.
UFC 169’s main event saw Renan Barao establish himself as the cream of the organization’s bantamweight crop with a first-round TKO defense of his championship belt against Urijah Faber.
Despite Faber’s best attempts to spring the upset on short …
UFC 169‘s main event saw RenanBarao establish himself as the cream of the organization’s bantamweight crop with a first-round TKO defense of his championship belt against Urijah Faber.
Despite Faber’s best attempts to spring the upset on short notice, “The California Kid” couldn’t get much going before Barao drew the stoppage from referee Herb Dean.
The stoppage, of course, turned out to be a source of controversy. Faber was floored by a heavy right hand from Barao but was able to shield himself and hold on while the champion rained down strikes. Faber was still blocking many of the strikes that Barao was throwing, but Dean felt that it was the best decision to call the fight:
Despite the controversy, this bout was a huge moment for both fighters and the bantamweight division as a whole. Here are the takeaways from UFC 169’s main event.
RenanBarao Is the Best Bantamweight in the World
Say what you will about the decision to stop the fight, but Barao just dispatched the No. 1-ranked fighter in the bantamweight division in the first round.
The simple fact that he beat Faber doesn’t do much for his standing in the division. He had already beaten The California Kid at UFC 149 to earn the interim title. How he beat the longtime contender adds another layer to his domination, however.
Barao outstruck Faber 37-9 (17-8 in significant strikes) in the brief bout, according to FightMetric’s numbers, and he showcased a sharper instinct to finish fights than he did in their first encounter. As good as Faber looked in his previous four fights against top competition, Barao wasted no time in taking him into deep waters.
With fighters like Michael McDonald, Eddie Wineland and Faber (twice) now on his resume, Barao has very few challenges left in the weight class. Of course, a matchup with former bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz might be on the horizon, but he hasn’t fought since October 2011, so it’s tough to tell how full a recovery he will make after sitting out more than two years with injuries.
Urijah Faber May Be Out of Title Shots
Faber made his name by being one of the great champions in the now-defunct WEC. But his aspirations of becoming a UFC champion are now in serious danger.
Going back to those WEC days when he lost his featherweight title against Mike Brown in 2008, he’s now on a six-fight losing streak in title bouts.
This leaves him in a tough spot. On one hand, he’s 9-0 in non-title fights in that same span. It’s hard to argue that he deserves to be sent too far down the bantamweight hierarchy. On the other hand, he’s now been defeated by Barao twice and former champion Dominick Cruz.
At 34 years old, Faber may have a seemingly impossible hurdle standing between him and the belt.
One thing is for sure, though: We learned that he is a tremendous teammate. He plugged T.J. Dillashaw for a title shot just minutes after losing one of the biggest fights of his life.
That’s the kind of classy move that makes him a fan favorite.
Cruz vs. Barao Is the Bantamweight Fight the UFC Needs
As previously mentioned, it’s tough to tell what the former bantamweight champion will bring to the Octagon when he finally makes it back. But for the sake of the division, the UFC better hope that he’s the same guy who beat Urijah Faber and Demetrious Johnson in his first two bouts in the organization.
With Barao running right through Faber, there aren’t too many intriguing options left, especially if the UFC hopes to create a marketable fight to carry a pay-per-view. Names like Dillashaw and Raphael Assuncao seem like preliminary options, but they don’t really jump out as noteworthy challengers.
As the one-time champion, Cruz would create a marketable angle that would bring some buzz to a division that is often relegated to either co-main event or free television status. Damon Martin of Fox Sports laid out a path that would work perfectly to set up the fight:
With Barao finishing Faber this time around, it appears we’ve seen the coronation of a dominant champion and the last stand of a longtime fan favorite.
Renan Barao defended his UFC Bantamweight Championship successfully at UFC 169, and now the UFC has to decide what is next for the king of the division.
Barao, now the undisputed champion, took care of business on Saturday.
The champion def…
Renan Barao defended his UFC Bantamweight Championship successfully atUFC 169, and now the UFC has to decide what is next for the king of the division.
Barao, now the undisputed champion, took care of business on Saturday.
The champion defended the belt against the man he bested for the interim UFC Bantamweight Championship,Urijah Faber. Herb Dean stepped in to save Faber in the first round after Barao had dropped him twice and was leveling hammerfists into the side of the head as “The California Kid” tried to cover up.
Here are three fighters the UFC could put into the title mix right away.
Urijah Faber
This likely won’t happen, but the list of potential contenders is not long at 135.
Faber will not drop far in the rankings. The ending was somewhat controversial, and the division needs more time to work itself out.
With a TKO finish on Saturday, a third bout between them may be a hard sell.
Faber is still the star of the division, and that has to count for something. The end to the fight on Saturday will allow him to continue to sell himself as a title contender. After several unsuccessful title challenges, he at least remains in the mix at 135.
T.J. Dillashaw
Dillashaw is ranked No. 5 in the division, and he wasn’t the first to come to mind in the list of contenders. However, his teammate Faber gave him a shoutout at the end of UFC 169 to sell him a bit.
The 9-2 fighter has shown a lot of improvement over the past two years since coming off The Ultimate Fighter. Since losing the finale to John Dodson, he is 5-1 inside the Octagon. His most recent outing was a decision win over Mike Easton.
The timing is beneficial for him, and the name-drop from Faber puts him in prime position to challenge for the title if the UFC wants to use him.
The star of the division is pushing his teammate, and the UFC should be glad. The promotion needs challengers at 135.
Raphael Assuncao
Assuncao first has to get past Francisco Rivera at UFC 170 on February 22, but if he is successful, then he should be next in line.
He is ranked No. 3 in the division, but No. 2-ranked Michael McDonald is coming off a loss to Faber.
The Brazilian has five consecutive wins, and a victory at UFC 170 will make six straight. That win streak will be hard for the UFC to deny him a title shot. The Brazilian vs. Brazilian matchup would likely be a good main event for a card in Brazil later in 2014.
This is the UFC’s most likely option. The bantamweight division is still a work-in-progress, and Assuncao is the leader in the clubhouse for the next shot at gold.
On the Eve of Super Bowl Sunday, the UFC delivered an explosive night of fights from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Nova Uniao teammates Jose Aldo and Renan Barao successfully defended their UFC championships in dominant fashion. Aldo pic…
On the Eve of Super Bowl Sunday, the UFC delivered an explosive night of fights from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Nova Uniao teammates Jose Aldo and Renan Barao successfully defended their UFC championships in dominant fashion. Aldo picked apart a game Ricardo Lamas for 25 minutes and, arguably, solidified his spot as MMA’s top pound-for-pound fighter.
Bantamweight champ Barao blitzkrieged Urijah Faber with a barrage of strikes in the first round to earn the TKO victory. Although the stoppage was highly controversial, Barao looked every bit like the berserker we’ve been accustomed to seeing in the Octagon.
Also on the card: Alistair Overeem manhandled Frank Mir, Ali Bagautinov beat John Lineker and Abel Trujillo knocked out Jamie Varner.
Let’s take a look at who scored the highest on the UFC 169 report card.
(I’ll eat my own foot if the word “bro” wasn’t uttered at least once. / Photo via Esther Lin/MMAFighting)
Legacies will be defined, belts may or may not change hands, and “Bagautinov” will be pronounced at least three different ways — welcome, ladies and gents, to CagePotato’s liveblog of UFC 169: Barao vs. Faber. On tap for this evening: Renan Barao attempts to defend his unified bantamweight title for the first time against Urijah Faber, and Jose Aldo goes for his sixth UFC featherweight title defense against hard-charging contender Ricardo Lamas. Plus: a heavyweight battle between Alistair Overeem and Frank Mir that’s totally awesome if you don’t think about it too hard.
Handling play-by-play for the UFC 169 pay-per-view broadcast is Aaron Mandel, who will be putting live results from the main card after the jump, starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest updates, and shoot your own thoughts into the comments section. Thanks for coming.
(I’ll eat my own foot if the word “bro” wasn’t uttered at least once. / Photo via Esther Lin/MMAFighting)
Legacies will be defined, belts may or may not change hands, and “Bagautinov” will be pronounced at least three different ways — welcome, ladies and gents, to CagePotato’s liveblog of UFC 169: Barao vs. Faber. On tap for this evening: Renan Barao attempts to defend his unified bantamweight title for the first time against Urijah Faber, and Jose Aldo goes for his sixth UFC featherweight title defense against hard-charging contender Ricardo Lamas. Plus: a heavyweight battle between Alistair Overeem and Frank Mir that’s totally awesome if you don’t think about it too hard.
Handling play-by-play for the UFC 169 pay-per-view broadcast is Aaron Mandel, who will be putting live results from the main card after the jump, starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest updates, and shoot your own thoughts into the comments section. Thanks for coming.
Preliminary card results
– Alan Patrick def. John Makdessi via unanimous decision (29-28 x 2, 30-27)
– Chris Cariaso def. Danny Martinez via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3)
– Nick Catone def. Tom Watson via split-decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29)
– Al Iaquinta def. Kevin Lee via unanimous decision (29-28 x 2, 28-27)
– Clint Hester def. Andy Enz via unanimous decision (30-27 x 2, 30-26)
– Rashid Magomedov def. Tony Martin via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3)
– Neil Magny def. Gasan Umalatov via unanimous decision (30-27 x 2, 29-28)
Alright everyone, we are live for the UFC 169 PPV card! The first seven (7!) fights all went to decision so if you’re just tuning in now congrats on not wasting your life, we must be due for something good.
Abel Trujillo vs. Jamie Varner
Varner took this on slightly short notice as an injury replacement for Bobby Green and he’ll be looking to keep his career resurgence going against the the up and comer Trujillo.
Round 1- Left hook lands for Varner. Good one-two from Trujillo. Right hand lands from Varner. Two big shots just miss from Trujillo. Varner hits a right hand and Trujillo answers. Good even exchanges so far. Ducking left hook for Varner. Trujillo clinches and tries for a takedown but Varner reverses and has Trujillo’s back. Varner rolls with him and stays on the back looking to sink in hooks. They scramble and Varner is in north south working a choke. The attempt looks deep but Trujillo gives the classic thumbs up. Varner tightens the choke but releases and tries to transition to mount but looses position and they return to the feet. A wild exchange ensues and both fighters are clipped but seem okay. Good straight left lands from Trujillo followed by a knee, great round. 10-9 Varner.
Round 2- Trujillo comes out firing but mostly missing. Front kick from Varner. Left hook tags Trujillo and tries to pounce but Trujillo fires back and clips Varner who shoots in on the legs. They are both standing and Varner clips Trujillo who goes against the fence and then slumps forward for a takedown. Varner sprawls and works strikes. Varner swivels to the back as Trujillo rises against the cage. They go rock em sock em robots against the cage and Trujillo is taking the worst of it but is still in the fight, but he is seriously wobbled. Out of nowhere Trujillo unloads a right hand that puts Varner out cold!!! Wild fight, holy shit.
Abel Trujillo defeats Jamie Varner via KO, 2:32 of round 2
Trujillo admits in the post-fight interview he was seriously hurt before getting the KO, love the honesty and the warrior spirit! This will be hard to top for FOTN and maybe KOTN.
Ali Bagautinov vs. John Lineker
Lineker has more UFC experience and top level KO power for 125 lbs. but Bagautinov can bring it and has shown it up to this point. Lineker struggled to make weight (again) yesterday so we’ll see if his gas tank can last if it needs to. Winner of this might get a Flyweight title shot in this new, emerging division.
At the check-in point they clip Lineker’s fingernail as Rogan starts with the mani/pedi jokes. NJ commission is world-class and Lineker cannot seem to keep his shit together.
Round 1- Lineker stalking and rips a right but Ali times it well and hits a takedown, looking to pass from full guard. Lineker working elbows from the bottom and man, he really does hit hard. Ali postures up and looks to rain down strikes. Ali trying to pass but Lineker doing a good job maintaining full guard. Lineker spins for a leg lock agains the sambo master as Rogan clowns on him. Ali switches to a heel hook of his own and sits back on it, looked good but Lineker spins out and they stand. Lineker taunts Ali to stand and strike. Lineker stalking again as Ali moves around the edge of the Octagon. Lineker throws a right body kick with Ali catches and uses to take Lineker down where he is on top in half guard throwing punches. Lineker trying for a kimura from the bottom as round ends. 10-9 Bagautinov.
Round 2- Low kicks from both men to start. Ali dives in on the legs for a takedown but it’s from way too far out and they end up against the fence. Ali flurries with strikes and they tie up in the clinch. They split, left hooks from Ali as he moves constantly to avoid Lineker’s power. Huge body shot right punch from Lineker and two more, ouch, these look good. Ali dives for a takedown which fails and those body shots hurt him. Lineker opening up and starting to tag Ali and the momentum is shifting. Ali dives under a punch for a takedown. Lineker sprawls and throws elbows to the body as he rises against the fence. They separate and Ali hits some good punches to the head of Lineker, kick is blocked and Ali goes for a takedown which fails. Round ends with a flurry, Lineker landing some heavy shots. 10-9 Lineker.
Round 3- By my unofficial scoring it will come down to this round. Ali wades in through strikes and get a takedown from a clinch trip but Lineker gets back to his feet. Ali throws Lineker back down from the body lock. Ali working to full mount as Lineker works a kimura and recovers half guard. Lineker uses the fence to get back up but gets hit with a left and then taken back down by Ali. Half guard with Ali on top and Rogan makes the good point that Lineker’s cardio remarkably seems okay as we’re halfway through the third round. They are clinched against the cage with Ali working knees. They separate, one minute left. Ali dives in on a leg and gets it, even from quite far out. Ali working strikes on top as Lineker goes for a leg lock and eats some strikes to pay for it. The fight ends with Lineker working a leg lock as Bagautinov stands up flexing and playing to the crowd. 10-9 Bagautinov.
Ali Bagautinov defeats John Lineker via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Frank Mir vs. Alistair Overeem
Time for the big boys to throw down. Both have been on the wrong end of KO’s as of late and the loser could be out of the UFC.
Round 1- BIG DUDES! Touch of the gloves and some feeling out. High kick by Mir, body punch from Overeem. Low kick by Overeem and a right hand from Mir. Mir comes in with strikes and clinches but Overeem reverses and throws some knees. They split, leg kick from Overeem and he lands a short left hand on Mir. Left hook behind the ear of Mir. Thai clinch from Overeem and a knee to the body makes Mir spit. Overeem drops Mir with a knee to the head from the clinch and he is hanging on for dear life on the ground as Overeem pours it on. Overeem is pinning Mir’s hand behind his head big brother style. Mir eats a knee to the body but rises to his feet! Did Overeem gas again@!!?!? They split and back on the feet. Overeem looks fresh still, that cardio training has paid off. Mir comes in with a kick and a punch that are slow and miss. They clinch and Mir drops for a leglock but ends up on the bottom in half guard. Overeem drops two hammerfists and an elbow to the midsection. Round ends with Overeem on top but Mir survives. 10-9 Overeem.
Round 2- Straight left from Overeem snaps Mir’s head back. Leg kick from Mir and then another which is checked. Overeem catches a leg and throws Mir like a small child to the mat but backs off. Mir comes in with strikes that are slow again and miss. Overeem clinches and throws knees to the body against the fence. Ref separates them and back to the center. Overeem throws three big strikes which land. Mir runs in and scores a bumrush takedown. Overeem sitting up against the cage with Mir trying to stay on top. Mir briefly threatens with a guillotine but loses it and finds himself on the bottom with Overeem throwing strikes again. Overeem continues to work strikes on top in half guard. Mir is bloodied around his right eye in multiple places. Big left elbow from Overeem and Mir is getting beaten up. Mir gets full guard from the bottom and tries to use the cage to roll and reverse. Overeem stands up while Mir lays in guard. Ref stands them up and the round ends. 10-9 Overeem.
Round 3- Two high kicks miss from Mir. Mir tries for a takedown, runs into the brick wall of Overeem’s body and then pulls guard. Overeem does not want to play on the ground and stands up. Mir shoots for another takedown but again has to pull guard and ends up on the bottom in half guard eating some punches from Overeem. Two big left hands land from Overeem on top and Mir ties him up. Overeem working strikes to the head and body from guard. Overeem is laying a methodical beating on Mir and he stands up to force Mir to rise. Big straight right rocks Mir who looks longingly at the clock. Overeem begs Mir to swing at him but Mir just flails a weak kick and eats two more big strikes from Overeem as the right ends. 10-9 Overeem.
Alistair Overeem defeats Frank Mir via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Champ Jose Aldo vs. Ricardo Lamas
For some reason the heavier fight is not the headliner. Lamas is rocking a great mohawk mullet, may it give him the strength he needs because Aldo is the clear favorite and maybe the pound for pound best.
Round 1- Leg kick from Lamas and another. Head kick misses from Lamas. Aldo throwing lots of fakes and feeling Lamas out. Two minutes in and Aldo has thrown three strikes. More leg kicks from Lamas which Aldo is mostly checking. Two strikes and a kick from Aldo. Spinning kick to the body from Aldo. Jumping head kick from Lamas is blocked. Body kick from Lamas and he slips and Aldo pounces throwing head and body shots but no major damage. Lamas working more kicks, high and low, none landing. Right hand from Aldo to the head and rips another to the body. Two spinning kicks miss from Aldo. First round ends with Aldo throwing flying knee and punches. More missed than landed in that round, fortunately we’ve got four more if we need them! 10-9 Lamas.
Round 2- Aldo checks a leg kick and blocks a high kick. Lamas throws a slow wheel kick which also doesn’t land. Punch and low kick from Aldo, that hurt. Straight right from Aldo. Leg kick from Lamas doesn’t land fully, body punch from Aldo and two more. Good leg kick from Aldo, his are way more successful than Lamas’. Aldo clips Lamas with a left hand. Good leg kick from Aldo. Jabs and a leg kick from Aldo, he’s starting to turn it up. Another leg kick bends Lamas around. Wheel kick misses from Lamas. Lamas’ leg is starting to give out on the kicks. Wheel kick again from Lamas that is blocked followed by another that totally misses. 10-9 Aldo.
Round 3- Lamas comes out with a front kick and then a body kick. Leg kick from Aldo. Punch and a leg kick from Aldo. Aldo blocks a head kick and throws a leg kick. Aldo with more leg kicks and punches. Lamas tries for a single leg takedown but Aldo shrugs it off. Lamas with a head kick that was close, leg kick from Aldo, obviously. Front push kick frmo Lamas and Aldo drills him with a leg kick. Uppercut from Lamas and an overhand right from Aldo. Two jabs and a straight right from Aldo. Lamas misses with two headkicks. Body punch from Aldo and another leg kick. Lamas is still in the fight though, he’s taking it and pushing on, throwing strong strikes of his own. Right hand and leg kick from Lamas. Lamas got Aldo with a right. 10-9 Aldo.
Round 4- Aldo has tended to fade in the championship rounds, we’ll see how this goes. Lamas goes for a single leg takedown which Aldo defends as he backs against the cage. Lamas lifts Aldo into the air against the cage and Aldo just chills there in midair for awhile. Aldo reverses and puts Lamas against the cage. Aldo trips Lamas and takes him to the mat. Aldo on top in side control looking for an arm triangle. Aldo now in half guard. Lamas with butterfly guard and Aldo jumps over them and lands in mount. Lamas rolls and gives up his back. Aldo goes for a choke but can’t get it under the chin. Lamas gets to his feet and now shoots in on Aldo who has his back against the cage defending against Lamas. 10-9 Aldo.
Round 5- I think Lamas has to finish here to win. Lamas comes out aggressive with a flurry of body kicks. Lamas swings for the fences but misses and Aldo presses him against the cage. Aldo drags Lamas down against the cage and is in full guard. Aldo moves to side control and then mount. Lamas throws his hips and reverses Aldo. Lamas now on top in full guard. Lamas diving down with strikes but Aldo defending. Big elbow from Lamas and he wants it but Aldo is doing a good job of somewhat desperately tying him up. Lamas’ corner is screaming that he needs to finish and Lamas is pouring it on. Aldo ties him back up in full guard and is hanging on tight. A few final punches and elbows from Lamas as the round ends. 10-9 Lamas and I think Aldo will take it three rounds to two, but who am I?
Jose Aldo defeats Ricardo Lamas via unanimous decision (49-46 x3)
Aldo gives Lamas credit in his postfight interview as the humble champ retains the belt.
Champ Renan Barao vs. Urijah Faber
Faber has been on an absolute tear since his previous loss to Barao and he steps up on short notice for another crack at a title that has eluded him since earlier in his WEC days. Barao has been on a run of his own, dude hasn’t lost since 2005 in his first fight. Faber has lost his last 5 title fights and won everything else, he is still evolving and improving but you have to wonder at age 34 if he’ll get another shot if he loses tonight. My heart wants Faber, my head says Barao, it’s tough out here.
Round 1- Kicks and punches from both to start, nothing landing. Faber catches a leg and lands a left on Barao. Lots of kicks from Barao, nothing really landing so far. Body shot by Faber, he slips and briefly turtles up as Barao strikes. Faber stands up with a spinning back fist and he smiles at Barao. Body shot head shot combo from Faber and his striking looks good, thanks Duane Ludwig. Head kick blocked from Barao. Good leg kick by Barao. Barao floors Faber with a punch and dives in. Faber covering up for his life but he gets back to his feet! Barao hits Faber some more and he tries for a leg desperately. Barao drops Faber again and Faber goes flat on the canvas for a second before grabbing Barao’s leg again. Barao raining down punches as Faber covers up. Referee Herb Dean jumps in and stops the fight. Faber holds on in disbelief to Barao’s leg and tells Dean that he was fine and giving a thumbs up. It’s to no avail and the champ retains his belt.
Renan Barao defeats Urijah Faber via tko, round 1
From where I sit, on my couch, that was a bad stoppage. No one except Herb Dean is in the cage making those calls officially but we’re all entitled to our opinions. My opinion is that Faber should have been given every opportunity to stay in that fight and he was robbed of that. I bet Eddie Wineland agrees.
Faber stays classy in his interview but agrees the stoppage was early, obviously, and suggests that “a limp body” would be a better indicator to stop the fight. Rogan suggests that Chad Mendes, Faber’s teammate should get the next shot, Faber reminds Rogan that Mendes is a weight class above. ”I’m retarded,” muses Rogan, outsmarted by a guy who was on the verge of consciousness a minute ago. And on that note, have a good night.
Fans can lull themselves to sleep with talk of controversy or proverbial screwjobs, but at the end of the day, Renan Barao is simply a better fighter than Urijah Faber.