Renan Mota do Nascimento Pegado (born 31 January 1987),[6] better known as Renan Barão, is a

Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and the former UFC Bantamweight Champion. He held one of
the longest unbeaten streaks in MMA history - following a loss in his professional debut, he recorded 32
straight fights without a loss (31 victories and 1 no contest) over a span of 9 years. During his
championship reign, he was ranked as a top 3 pound for pound fighter and regarded as one of the best
mixed martial artists in the world.[7] His nickname Barão (baron), which predates his athletic career,
was given to him by his grandmother after a character in the 1986 Brazilian soap opera Sinhá Moça.[5]

Contents

1 Mixed martial arts career

1.1 World Extreme Cagefighting

1.2 Ultimate Fighting Championship & Interim UFC Bantamweight Championship

1.3 UFC Bantamweight Champion

1.4 Back to title contention

1.5 Move back to Featherweight

1.6 Bantamweight return

1.7 Post-UFC career

1.8 Eagle Fighting Championship

2 Championships and awards

3 Mixed martial arts record

4 See also

5 References

6 External links

Mixed martial arts career

He started his career in Kimura Nova União, a sports school in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Since
turning professional in 2005, Barão has competed for Shooto Brazil and other smaller organizations in
his native country of Brazil, having fought Rony Mariano Bezerra and Anistavio "Gasparzinho" Medeiros
both former The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil contestants. He is a teammate and training partner of former
WEC Featherweight Champion and former UFC Featherweight Champion José Aldo at Nova União. He
received his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt from André Pederneiras in September 2011[8] becoming the
100th black belt under Pederneiras in the process.[5]
In January 2010, Sherdog named him their top prospect in their list of "10 Brazilians to watch in 2010"[9]

World Extreme Cagefighting

Barão was expected to make his North American, as well as WEC debut in a Bantamweight bout against
Clint Godfrey on 20 June 2010 at WEC 49,[10] but Godfrey was forced from the card with an injury.[11]
Barão instead faced fellow WEC newcomer Anthony Leone at an agreed 142 lb catchweight.[12] Barão
defeated Leone via submission (armbar) in the third round.

Barão defeated Chris Cariaso by rear-naked choke submission in the first round on 16 December 2010 at
WEC 53.[13]

Ultimate Fighting Championship & Interim UFC Bantamweight Championship

In October 2010, the WEC merged with the UFC. As part of the merger, all WEC fighters were
transferred to the UFC.[14]

Barão was expected to make his UFC debut on 28 May 2011 against Demetrious Johnson at UFC 130,
[15] but an undisclosed injury forced Brad Pickett out of his fight with Miguel Torres on the same card.
Johnson moved up to fight Torres, while Barão faced Cole Escovedo.[16][17] Barão won his debut fight
in the organization via unanimous decision.

Barão faced Brad Pickett on 5 November 2011 at UFC 138. He defeated Pickett by rear-naked choke
submission in the first round,[18] also winning Fight of the Night honors.

Barão faced Scott Jorgensen on 4 February 2012 at UFC 143. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
[19]

Barão was expected to face Ivan Menjivar on 7 July 2012 at UFC 148 to possibly determine the number
one contender.[20] Barão instead faced Urijah Faber for the Interim Bantamweight title after current
champion Dominick Cruz was injured.[21] It was originally scheduled to take place at UFC 148 however,
due to an injury to headliner José Aldo (who was supposed to make a title defence in the event's main
event fight), the Faber/Barão bout was moved to 21 July 2012 and headlined UFC 149 for the Interim
Bantamweight Championship.[22] He won the fight via unanimous decision to become the Interim UFC
Bantamweight Champion. He was expected to face Dominick Cruz for the unified UFC Bantamweight
Championship at a later date. However, it was announced on 4 December 2012 that Dominick Cruz
suffered a second ACL tear that would require surgery, leaving Cruz now sidelined for 6–9 months.
In his first title defense, Barão retained the UFC Interim Bantamweight Championship against Michael
McDonald on 16 February 2013 at UFC on Fuel TV: Barão vs. McDonald.[23] McDonald was competitive
with capable take-down defense and crisp boxing - particularly - in the first two rounds, but was worn
down by Barão's more diverse skill-set as he mixed in knees and kicks standing, and often looked to take
the fight to the floor (with success). Upon executing a strong take-down in the fourth round, McDonald
tried to explode to his feet but instead gave Barão opportunity to expertly secure an arm-triangle choke
while passing into side control: McDonald tapped at 3:57 in the fourth round.[24] The win also won him
his first Submission of the Night honors.[25]

Barão was scheduled to make his second interim title defense against Eddie Wineland on 15 June 2013
at UFC 161.[26] However, on 21 May it was confirmed that Barão had pulled out of the bout, citing a
foot injury.[27]

The bout with Wineland was rescheduled for 21 September 2013 at UFC 165.[28] Barão retained the
title with a second-round TKO victory via spinning back kick and subsequent punches to the face. With
this victory Barão made history as the first and only fighter ever to defend an interim title more than
once in the UFC.[29] The win also resulted in Barão receiving his first Knockout of the Night bonus
award.[30]

UFC Bantamweight Champion

Barão was expected to face Dominick Cruz to unify the UFC Bantamweight Championship on 1 February
2014 at UFC 169.[31] However, on a 6 January episode of SportsCenter, UFC president Dana White
announced that Dominick Cruz had torn his groin, therefore being stripped of the UFC Bantamweight
Championship, and Barão would become the undisputed UFC Bantamweight Champion, with his first
unified title defense against Urijah Faber at UFC 169.[32] Barão successfully defended his title by
defeating Faber via TKO in the first round.[25]

For his second title defense, Barão faced T.J. Dillashaw in the main event at UFC 173 on 24 May 2014.
[33] Barão was a huge favorite, but Dillashaw won the fight in dominant fashion out striking Barão in all
five rounds, Dillashaw won via TKO in the fifth round to become the new UFC Bantamweight Champion.
[34] It was one of the greatest upsets in UFC history. The fight earned the Fight of the Night award.[35]

Back to title contention

An immediate rematch with Dillashaw was scheduled to take place on 30 August 2014 at UFC 177.[36]
However, the day of the weigh-ins, Barão had to be admitted to the hospital as a result of his attempts
to cut weight, and was removed from the card.[37] Dillashaw eventually fought UFC newcomer Joe
Soto[38] whom he defeated by 5th-round knockout.[39]

In his first fight since losing the title, Barão faced Mitch Gagnon on 20 December 2014 at UFC Fight Night
58.[40] He won the fight via arm-triangle submission in the third round.[41] The win also earned Barão
his first Performance of the Night bonus award.[42]

A rematch with Dillashaw was rescheduled and was expected to take place on 25 April 2015 at UFC 186.
[43] However a month before the event, Dillashaw was forced out of the bout after sustaining a broken
rib while training.[44]

The rematch with Dillashaw eventually took place at UFC on Fox 16 on 25 July 2015.[45] Barão lost the
fight via TKO in the opening moments of the fourth round.[46]

Move back to Featherweight

Barão next faced Jeremy Stephens in a featherweight bout on 29 May 2016 at UFC Fight Night 88.[47]
He lost the back and forth fight by unanimous decision.[48] Both participants were awarded Fight of the
Night honors for their performance.[49]

Barão faced Phillipe Nover on 24 September 2016 at UFC Fight Night 95.[50] He won the fight via
unanimous decision.[51]

Barão was briefly linked to a bout with Doo Ho Choi which was expected to take place on 15 April 2017
at UFC on Fox 24.[52] However, as the announcement of the pairing began to circulate, Choi declined
the bout, and as a result, Barão is expected to be rescheduled against a different opponent, possibly at
another event.[53]