Former UFC Bantamweight Champion Renan Barao will be returning to the division following a two fight stint at featherweight.
Brazilian outlet Combate first reported the news.
Barao (34-4 1NC MMA, 9-3 UFC) went 7-0, and captured the bantamweight strap in his first seven promotional bouts, but after a brutal loss to TJ Dillashaw, the Brazilian ended up in a very unfamiliar position. Not only had he lost, but he had taken a beating, and when he returned to fight Mitch Gagnon, and then after a victory TJ Dillashaw, “The Baron” never looked the same. Following a second loss to Dillashaw, Barao decided it was time to move up to featherweight.
In his first outing at 145lbs, the 30-year-old ended up on the wrong end of a narrow split decision to Jeremy Stephens at UFC Vegas. In his second, and most recent, he managed to defeat Phillipe Nover by way of decision in Brazil.
