Former champ Renan Barao will once again step inside the octagon following a disappointing no-show in his last fight.
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bantamweight titleholder Renan Barao was put in hot waters after not showing up during a scheduled weight in for his fight against TJ Dillashaw for UFC 177. The fight was scheduled on a Saturday night (August 30, 2014) in Sacramento, California. But during last Friday's weight in, Barao was not able to show up. According to Nova Uniao, Barao's fight team, Barao felt dizzy when leaving the tub in his hotel room and hit his head against the wall. The bantamweight passed out and was rushed to the hospital.
But Barao is now back with a vengeance. The former UFC bantamweight champion is slated to meet Mitch Gagnon on Dec. 20 at UFC Fight Night 58.
UFC President was not happy with the incident and had some harsh word for the fighter. He said "You got enough money to get a real nutritionist to go in there and watch what you're eating. The guy's gotta go in there and do it the right way or don't cut weight, move up to 45. Don't cut weight. It's part of the sport, things are going to happen. Sucks when it does but it happens. ... He won't get a title fight after this."
However is not getting a title fight because of what happened. Barao will get Gagnon (12-2), a Canadian submission artist who enters the bout as the No. 15 ranked bantamweight on the UFC's media-generated rankings.
Gagnon is a Canadian mixed martial artist currently competing in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He began training in 2006 and made his professional MMA debut in September 2008. He fought exclusively in his native Canada and amassed a record of 8-1 before joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
He has a total of 14 matches with 12 wins and two losses.
The upcoming mixed martial arts event that will be held at the Ginásio José Corrêa in Barueri, Brazil on December 20, 2014. Many will be looking forward to what Barao has in store to regain his status in the UFC.
