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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Following his second loss to T.J. Dillashaw, former UFC Bantamweight Champion Renan Barao is heading up to featherweight.
Barao made the announcement on a local news program in Brazil, according to Matheus Aquina - manager for Bellator fighters Patricio and Patricky Freire - on Twitter:
Renan Barao said on a local TV news that he's moving up to Featherweight and looking to fight in December
Barao, 28, went unbeaten in 33 fights over a nine-year span, but had that streak snapped with his fifth round TKO loss to Dillashaw in May of last year. He bounced back in December with a win over Mitch Gagnon, but in the rematch with Dillashaw in July he was beaten even more handily, losing by TKO in the fourth round.
Penick's Analysis: It's the right move for Barao at this point. He's clearly below the Champ after two fights between them, and he needs a significant change to get back on track. Now, his teammate Jose Aldo remains Champion at 145 lbs., but as he needs to get some wins back before getting into title contention, there's plenty of time for Aldo to move on to lightweight before Barao gets there.
Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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