UFC 138 Results: How Renan Barao Can Save the Bantamweight Division
by Fraser Coffeen on Nov 7, 2011 9:00 AM EST
in UFC Editorial
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The UFC Bantamweight division is in trouble. Dominick Cruz is a dominant champion who has come close to cleaning out the division, but his style and personality have not clicked with fans. Urijah Faber is the only semi-name in the division, leaving casual fans almost no one to grab their attention. The result? A severe lack of fan interest in the fledgling division. With nearly every top Bantamweight already holding a loss to Cruz, it looked like the division might have to wait some time before catching on with the casual fans.
Enter Renan Barao.
At UFC 138, the Brazilian fighter turned in a star-making performance, crushing Brad Pickett in the first round and establishing himself as one of the top new names at 135. And with this win, Barao may have just proved himself as the man to bring life to the division. Barao's win is sure to draw comparisons to his Nova Uniao teammate Jose Aldo, and with good reason. Like the UFC Featherweight champion, Barao is the kind of dynamic, explosive fighter that fans were promised when these lighter division came to the UFC. He's exactly what the division needs - a fighter that fans can rally behind.
So the big question is - now that the UFC has a potential Bantamweight star on their hands, what do they do with him?
There is an obvious temptation to fast track Barao into a title shot. With champion Cruz on the sidelines, we may have some time before the next defense. An option would be for Barao to face the winner of UFC 139's Urijah Faber vs. Brian Bowles fight in two weeks, with the winner moving on to a title shot. But I don't believe that is the move to make.
The UFC should send Barao down the same path Aldo traveled in the WEC. Right now, Barao is in the same position Aldo was after defeating Rolando Perez at WEC 38. He's scored his first televised win, and immediately turned heads in the process. But with Aldo, the WEC did not rush the title shot, giving him two more high profile fights and wins before setting up the Aldo vs. Mike Brown title clash. By the time that fight rolled around at WEC 44, Aldo had tremendous momentum and fan interest on his side - both of which have carried over to his current run as the UFC champion and his status among many as a top five pound for pound fighter.
Barao can reach those same levels. And the UFC 138 win over Pickett was a great first step to getting there. But it was just that - a step. The UFC has a potential star on their hands, but to get the most out of this star, they need to introduce him to a wider range of fans first. Put his next fight on the PPV portion of a strong card and let the casual fanbase get excited about this new Bantamweight phenom. After that? Put him against Cruz and cross your fingers.
If all goes well, Bantamweight could have their own Jose Aldo, and a new champion to put in the pound for pound rankings.
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The Bantamweight division needs some excitement
strike while the iron is hot, get this guy another fight quickly and if he wins get him in the cage with Cruz. And I would not cry foul if he went straight to a title shot, Pickett is a legit contender and Barao totally outclassed him. I’m ok with him facing Cruz next.
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by T.P. Grant on Nov 7, 2011 9:09 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
I think the Bowles/ Faber winner is next in line for Cruz,
but I’ve been big on Barao for a while now and think he’s 1 good win from a title shot. I’d like to see him against Jorgensen, they both just fought and would make an exciting matchup. Scotty is a strong wrestler, and I think that’s the kind of style that Renan needs to clock in some quality time facing before he fights Cruz.
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by ElliotMatheny on Nov 7, 2011 3:46 PM EST up reply actions
Cruz is an awesome fighter.
Whoever doesn’t like Cruz because of his personality should pick up a different sport…
I don’t like Cruz because of his style, not that his personality is helping matters though.
But I do like him a bit more after his last fight because of his diverse takedowns..
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He doesn’t commit any power to his strikes. It looks like the only intention he has on his punches is to make contact and get out of the way. This isn’t amateur boxing, I would like to see home commit to trying to hurt someone. Ironically it is his lack of commitment to hurting someone that has also led to his broken hands: all the funny angles and incredibly ugly punches means he is hitting wrong and increasing his risk of injury at the same time he decreases his ability to hurt his opponent
by troyd on Nov 7, 2011 10:10 AM EST via mobile up reply actions 3 recs
i'll buy this
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by Cory Braiterman on Nov 7, 2011 10:21 AM EST up reply actions
ya but ur forgetting
That his odd and unique style and fast paced footwork also attract fans to him and makes fights interesting and exciting
by benten20 on Nov 7, 2011 10:29 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
this is debatable...
Cruz has been main eventing free shows (and 1 PPV against Faber on the July 4th weekend card) for about 2 years now, and it is debatable about how his style and fast paced footwork attracts fans. Granted the pool is shallow, but Cruz hasn’t had a finish since Bowles broke his hand in their fight at WEC 47, and before that it was in March of 2008 Cruz had his last stoppage (a KO at Total Combat 27).
While I think Cruz can be a really dominant champion, and has proved that already, he doesn’t have a style or personality that attracts fans. Dominick is more of a heel champion (to borrow from pro wrestling for a minute) and needs competition to sell his fights. Barao may be considered green still, but if you want to sell this division it needs to be on a Fox card next year. I’m not saying main event, but it needs to get mainstream exposure.
I don't like how I would be scared to face any other champion in the UFC,
but I wouldn’t be scared to fight Cruz. I mean I know I’d lose, but I wouldn’t be SCARED, and that seems a little pathetic to me, since I have no MMA training. I’d lose and perhaps be a little humiliated, but I wouldn’t worry about being hurt. That’s why I dislike Cruz’s style: he’s by far the least dangerous champion in UFC history. I also dislike the way he constantly postures during fights AS IF he’s going to do something aggressive. He never commits to any strikes; they’re practically ALL thrown along lateral movements. It’s a style that only works due to his size advantage in the division. While Jorgensen, Bowles, Benavidez, etc. are finishing their fights (Jorgensen’s KO from in the guard was insane), Cruz just wins more unanimous-decision dance fests. It was interesting the first few times I saw it, but now it feels like rinse and repeat, only thing that changes is his opponent.
Why was Mike Fagan fired?
HaterSlayer
be hatin’?
Why was Mike Fagan fired?
Great answer. Much more succinct than my, but that is my sentiment too
by troyd on Nov 7, 2011 12:16 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I like Cruz's style myself
but i’ve got a few mates who dislike watching him because they see him as a ‘points fighter’ who doesn’t try to finish fights.
Like i say, that isn’t my opinion but it seems to be a commonly held perception
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by Mattyjudo on Nov 7, 2011 10:13 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
He has developed a high-level striking style that isn’t going to finish anybody, because it’s what his natural abilities supported. I think that’s a fact, then it comes down to how much you blame him for choosing that route. He sure does win a lot. I dunno.
"He's like Elvis in Korea! They love him there." - Mike Goldberg on Denis Kang
I haven't always liked Cruz' fights,
but he’s been getting better lately. I’ll give him a pass for getting whooped standing by DJ because of the hand injury, but I just DO NOT find his bouncing- around style of movement to be either aesthetically pleasing, or all that effective.
Xtreme Couture- The best never rest! The girl in my av is Kari Sweets (you're welcome).
"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates
by ElliotMatheny on Nov 7, 2011 3:48 PM EST up reply actions
I think it’s too early to say too much about this kid. I have only seen one fight of his grAnted but I thought Pickett pretty much waded chin first into Barao punches over and over. Really sloppy striking from Pickett. If barao can do wht he did against Pickett to a top level fighter with some head movement than he definitely is a big threat at 135
by bert44 on Nov 7, 2011 9:11 AM EST via mobile reply actions
great idea imo
See what he can do against a guy who will try and control him on the ground
by benten20 on Nov 7, 2011 9:36 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I think Barao vs. Jorgensen is a great fight. I wouldn’t be opposed to giving Jorgensen a title rematch either, though he didn’t do very well the first time. The winner of Bowles vs. Faber should still fight Cruz. Barao should stay busy, but I think it’s OK if he gets the next title shot afterward. Next time I’m bored I plan on looking up every Barao fight I can find.
"He's like Elvis in Korea! They love him there." - Mike Goldberg on Denis Kang
Too early to call him a savior
Hopefully he gets a tougher test in his next fight before getting a shot at Cruz. I honestly think he would look outmatched against Cruz, mostly because of speed.
I agree with your view that division is still in it’s infancy stages, but that does not necessarily mean that the division is in trouble. Cruz’s iron grip over the belt, and indeed, his wins over all opposition thus far does create problems for finding a potential challenger, but part of the reason why the bantamweight division hasn’t caught on is due to Zuffa’s promotion of the division (or lack of).
Another thing is that in MMA, we are reluctant to give immediate or quick rematches if a person has been beaten before – we are under the notion that one must ‘earn’ his way back to the top after being defeated. For the majority of fighters, this makes sense, but I think that there should be cases, e.g. with Joseph Benavidez (who lost by a split decision to Cruz last time) where we should ignore the general principle.
What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease.
-Sun Tze
With fights like Shogun/Machida 1, Askren/Heiron, Silva/Sonnen etc I agree but I don’t see the point when Cruz has beaten him twice.
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by MattParker117 on Nov 7, 2011 9:40 AM EST up reply actions
to early
To give him a title shot. He beat brad who’s a legit contender but I think barao was very underestimated by pickett on the whole. Not taking anything away from barao but he was a question mark coming in if he was for real or not and almost everyone picked pickett to win this fight. Next time no one is gonna give him anything but their best. So jorgenson vs. Barao please
by benten20 on Nov 7, 2011 9:40 AM EST via mobile reply actions
I think Barao is
At least 1 big fight away from challenging Cruz. Let the winner of Faber/Bowles have their fight with Cruz, and give Barao another top 10 guy (Miguel Torres, Scott Jorgensen, hell maybe even Mighty Mouse) before fast tracking him to a shot. If Cruz is laid up, give Barao the winner of Bowles/Faber even.
Robbie Lawlor vs Nick Diaz UFC 47
Rogan: (after Diaz throws a looping left kick) Look at this Karate Kid stuff right here
Goldie: Daniel Miyagi has arrived in the OCTAGON.
this...
Give him a few weeks to rest up without an opponent, and then give him either Scotty J or Miguel should he win…
Good point.
I forgot Miguel was fighting Nick Pace soon.
Robbie Lawlor vs Nick Diaz UFC 47
Rogan: (after Diaz throws a looping left kick) Look at this Karate Kid stuff right here
Goldie: Daniel Miyagi has arrived in the OCTAGON.
by HeadKickOfDoom on Nov 7, 2011 1:44 PM EST up reply actions
okey so then this guy goes in, takes the title and defends it a couple of times and the weigh class in once again “in trouble” because of a dominant champ? I will never understand how a dominant champ is a bad thing. The problem is how the UFC are promoting their dominant champs: like every challenger is the toughest ever. Hell for silvas next fight (unless it’s against sonnen) give me a poster with no one else but silva on it.
Now I've switched signature to this one.
by the guy with the big nose on Nov 7, 2011 10:43 AM EST reply actions
I don’t think a dominant champion is automatically a problem. It only becomes a problem when it’s a champion no one cares about. Fans care about Silva, and they care about GSP, so their dominance is a draw. Fans don’t care about Cruz, so his dominance is a detriment.
And yes, I totally agree with you that the insistence on marketing every Silva/GSP challenger as “the biggest threat” and “the perfect opponent” is dumb and counter-productive. Show me Silva kicking Belfort in the face, fooling on Forrest, mauling Franklin – that what gets me to buy, not the idea that Mark Munoz is some kind of super challenge.
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by Fraser Coffeen on Nov 7, 2011 11:28 AM EST up reply actions
It has always been that way
The UFC never wants to market their champions as a dominant force. It is always “Challenger A has all the tools to beat this guy.” Look at the whole thing with Jones vs Machida. We hear “Jones is so good, he rips through everyone. But Lyoto, HE has the style to beat Jon Jones”. Sometimes they do it with guys who have no shot (Dan Hardy is the most dangerous guy GSP has ever been in the cage with….ugh, really? Who believed that?).
Anyway, rant done. I personally like Cruz, I find his frantic style pretty fun to watch, but that is just me.
Robbie Lawlor vs Nick Diaz UFC 47
Rogan: (after Diaz throws a looping left kick) Look at this Karate Kid stuff right here
Goldie: Daniel Miyagi has arrived in the OCTAGON.
by HeadKickOfDoom on Nov 7, 2011 1:42 PM EST up reply actions
agreed to some extent, but I think people actually would care about Cruz if they’ve been fed with “he’s close to invincible and one of the most dominant athletes in the world” or whatever propaganda the UFC’s PR department can come up with.
Now I've switched signature to this one.
by the guy with the big nose on Nov 7, 2011 2:53 PM EST up reply actions
the problem
cruz has beaten so many top BWs, who have gone out and (after losing to cruz) continued to do well.
bowles, benavidez and jorgensen are great examples.
it is tough to find someone for barao to fight against that isn’t a big risk. if barao fights jorgensen and loses you lose a contender without building a new one.
maybe match barao up with torres. then you can have cruz rematch the winner of the bowles/faber fight and then have him fight the winner of barao/torres after.
of course, this all assumes cruz makes a speedy recovery.
Cruz vs Barao...whenever it happens, is an absolute win-win
I’m a huge fan of both guys…I’ve been following Barao since LONG before everyone was on his bandwagon for beating Pickett…I wrote a fanpost about this guy 2.5 months ago. I was keeping an eye on him when he faced Escovedo(Watched that fight)
I love that he is finally getting so much recognition.
regardless of the skill level, going 23-1 anywhere, where you start off with a loss and then never lose again…that’s impressive. To fight that much, be as young as he is, and to never get caught or make any kind of mistake…that’s impressive.
I also LOVED how so many people were like ’he’s 26-1 with 26 wins are brazilian scrubs’ when that wasn’t the case, coming into this fight with Pickett, he was 3-0 with Zuffa organizations, fighting whatever opponents they put in front of him and passing with flying colors.
These two guys, Cruz and Barao, have some of the greatest records in MMA today and are on two extremely impressive win streaks(moreso Barao) and this fight would be insanely exciting and very relevant…as long as they promoted it right.
"You got Floyd Mayweather making 25 million dollars...he can't stop the double leg." - Nick Diaz
If Cruz ever fights Barao, I think that Barao will have the best striking both in power and in technique than any of Cruz’s past opponents, who were wrestle-boxers. Barao’s BJJ game is very strong as well. I don’t know if he can match Cruz’s speed, but there are things in Barao’s skillset that would make a fight against Cruz very intriguing.
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I remember being upset
It took him so long for him to feature on a main card after reading this a few years ago.
The Escovedo fight was slightly underwhelming, at least compared to my lofty expectations, but man, he really had a breakout performance against Pickett.
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by wonderfulspam on Nov 7, 2011 6:16 PM EST up reply actions
Faber/Bowles vs Barao would be cool
I agree that it would be fun to build up Cruz vs Barao a bit before it happens. Anyway, he probably needs a further test before we can say he deserves a title shot. Pickett was the first top guy he’s fought.
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