Okay, so, I’ve been diving deep into UFC history lately, and man, the name Renan Barao just keeps popping up. This guy was a monster back in the day, right? So, I decided to focus my research and viewing on his epic showdown with T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 173.
First, I started digging around for some background info on Barao. Turns out, this dude was the UFC Bantamweight Champion in 2014. 2014! He got the title by beating Urijah Faber in 2012, no less. A unanimous decision, too. He was considered one of the best in the game.
Then, I moved on to Dillashaw. This guy, from what I read, was a part of Team Alpha Male. Also, I found out that Dillashaw was stripped of his title because of some drama with a banned substance after he lost to Henry Cejudo. EPO, they called it. What a mess. But that’s a story for another day.
Next, I wanted the full scoop on this UFC 173 fight. I found some detailed breakdowns of the fight statistics. Lots of numbers, strikes, all that jazz. Then I found some videos of the fight on Tapology.
I watched some of the highlights. The buzz around this fight was huge. I mean, Dillashaw was the underdog, a real upset in the making, they said. It all went down in Las Vegas, May 24, 2014. I even saw that Dillashaw was quoted in some Associated Press article about it being a “stunning upset.”
Then, I watched the whole fight. Wow. Just wow. Dillashaw took it to Barao. He was relentless. It went on for five rounds, and in the end, Dillashaw won by a technical knockout. He became the new Bantamweight champ. It was wild.
- Watched the fight highlights.
- Watched the full fight.
- Read about the fighters’ backgrounds.
- Found fight statistics and analysis.
- Checked out news articles from around that time.
It was a crazy fight, and it really showed how unpredictable the UFC can be. One minute you’re on top, the next you’re watching someone else take your crown. From what I saw, Dillashaw really earned that win. But it was a reminder of how fast things change in this sport.
