Imagining an MMA Hall of Fame: Borderline Candidates, Part 1

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Renan Barao
“The Baron” Heat Fighting Championship (2005); Tremons Fight (2005); Mossoro Fight (2005); Fight Ship Looking Boy (2005); Rinos Fighting Championships (2006); Nordeste Combat Championship (2006); Cage Fight Nordeste (2006); Circuito Mix (2007); Shooto Americas (2007, 2008, 2008, 2008, 2009); Black Bull Vale Tudo (2007); Natal Cage Vale Tudo (2008); Leal Combat (2008); Watch Out Combat Show (2008, 2009); Platinum Fight Brazil (2009, 2009); Eagle Fighting Championship (2009); Jungle Fight (2010); World Extreme Cagefighting (2010); Ultimate Fighting Championship (2011-Current)
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CASE FOR: Barao went undefeated for a remarkable nine years, capturing the Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight title and stopping Urijah Faber and Eddie Wineland in violent fashion. It is one of the most impressive streaks in recent memory. Still only 27, Barao has plenty of time to further build his resume and cement his place in history. CASE AGAINST: Barao’s streak came mostly against soft competition and his near 25-minute destruction at the hands of T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 173 was not a good sign. Barao is not a star or drawing card, and his fights generally have not attracted a lot of attention. VERDICT: Should he go in? No. The rematch with Dillashaw will be extremely important in framing what to make of the first loss and his unbeaten streak.

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