UFC on FOX 16: Dillashaw vs. Barao 2 Date: July 25, 2015 Location: Chicago, Illinois Venue: United Center Broadcast: FOX UFC Bantamweight Champion TJ Dillashaw A former NCAA Division I wrestler and current Team Alpha Male member, T.J. Dillashaw (11-2) took the MMA world by storm in 2013 when he defeated UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao via fifth-round TKO to capture the title. It was a breakthrough performance by Dillashaw, who was a massive underdog heading into the fight but who now looks like he could be a superstar for the UFC. With a 7-2 overall record in the UFC since his stint on TUF, Dillashaw is a stud and he has the potential to hold the belt for a long time considering how much he improves fight to fight. For his first title defence, Dillashaw was set to fight Barao in a rematch but after Barao had trouble making weight, Dillashaw instead fought replacement opponent Joe Soto and knocked him out with a head kick. But now, after Barao submitted Mitch Gagnon to earn another crack at the belt, Dillashaw will have to fight his arch nemesis once again and prove to all the doubters it wasn’t a fluke when the two clash in the main event of UFC on FOX 16. UFC Bantamweight Contender Renan Barao After holding one of the longest winning streaks in MMA history, Renan Barao (33-2-2) finally fell when he was knocked out in brutal fashion by TJ Dillashaw at UFC 173. It was by far the worst the MMA world has ever seen Barao look and it was a shocking defeat for someone who was a historically-massive favorite heading into the fight. Barao should have had to work his way back up to title contention, but the UFC decided to give him an immediate rematch with Dillashaw at UFC 177. Instead of taking advantage of the opportunity, though, Barao missed weight and was forced off the card. He beat Mitch Gagnon at UFC Fight Night 58 to prove to the UFC he can still make weight, and after an impressive victory over Gagnon, Barao will now get the chance to avenge his loss to Dillashaw at UFC on FOX 16. One of the most dangerous fighters in the entire UFC, Barao is a super athlete with wicked striking and submissions, and if he shows up and fights to the best of his abilities, the rematch with Dillashaw should be much more competitive than the first time these two met, when Barao was blasted for nearly five rounds until he was kicked in the head and lost in devastating fashion. Opening UFC on FOX 16 Analysis: MMA oddsmaker Nick Kalikas made Dillashaw a -215 favorite (bet $215 to win $100) while Barao opened as a +165 underdog (bet $100 to win $165) at Several Bookmakers. Dillashaw beat Barao up badly back at UFC 173 in one of the biggest upsets of all time and since then has earned one title defence, a brutal beatdown of Joe Soto at UFC 177. As for Barao, he has fought only once since UFC 173, earning a third-round submission victory over Mitch Gagnon at UFC Fight Night 58. Barao and Dillasahw were supposed to fight at UFC 186, but the fight was scratched at the last minute due to a Dillashaw rib injury. Barao was a massive favorite in the first fight with Dillashaw, but after seeing what Dillashaw did to him, the tides are turned this time around and Dillashaw enters as the favorite. You can never count Barao out, and perhaps he had an off night the first time these two met, but overall Dillashaw seems like the superior fighter at this point in time and that’s why he’s the favorite entering this matchup.
