Roundtables
ROUNDTABLE: Will Renan Barao recapture the UFC Bantamweight Title if he gets rematch next with T.J. Dillashaw?
Dec 25, 2014 - 3:25:55 PM ROUNDTABLE: Will Renan Barao recapture the UFC Bantamweight Title if he gets rematch next with T.J. Dillashaw?

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With both Dominick Cruz and Raphael Assuncao injured, Renan Barao is likely to get his rematch with T.J. Dillashaw. With how Barao's fight went against Mitch Gagnon, do you think he'll re-capture the title in that fight? Why or why not?


RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

If Barao doesn't learn how to move his head and his feet, he doesn't have much of a chance in any rematch. So, if a near-40-fight veteran who has had near unanimous success and who completely feels is the best fighter in the world doesn't overhaul everything about his style, he's going to get trucked yet again. I don't know about you, but I don't see Barao changing things up much, do you?


FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

No, I didn't see enough in there from Barao to think he's going to beat Dillashaw. It's certainly possible, but I think I'd like to see Barao win one more time before saying he's got a good chance to win. Gagnon is tough, but it would take a lot of improvement for Barao to defeat Dillashaw, and he didn't show that in the win over Gagnon. I think Barao will look a lot better, but I would pick Dillashaw to remain champion in a much closer fight.


BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Barao sliding into the title fight is fine with me, but I don't know if he will fare any better a second time around. He got pretty badly beaten in their first matchup, and who's to say he won't again? He looked great against Gagnon, but he needs to be perfect against Dillashaw. T.J. has more weapons than the average competitor, and he showed that by dusting the long time champion with what seemed to be relative ease. I'm looking forward to the rematch, but I don't know how it will play out.


KALE HAVERVOLD, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I don't know, Barao does better but likely still loses. I'd much rather see John Dodson move up and try to beat T.J for a second time, or see Demetrious Johnson move up to fight him


TOM STRONG, MMATORCH UK CONTRIBUTOR

Before their first encounter, I gave T.J Dillashaw quite frankly no hope at all of defeating Barao. I've never been proved so far wrong. Not only did Dillashaw beat Barao, he totally dominated the champion over five rounds.

Barao has paid his price for UFC 177; he's been punished for his actions, and now it's time to get the rematch back on. Ok, we can't take much away from him beating Mitch Gagnon, but he looked like he made the weight easily, and looked decent in his performance in defeating Gagnon. Stepping back up to face Dillashaw he'll have to be at his best, though will his best be good enough? Did he just have a bad night, a bad weight cut, did he underestimate Dillashaw? Who knows, but one thing the re-match will do is answer all the questions we have from the first fight.

I don't envisage a repeat of their first bout, this time I expect the fight to be a lot more competitive. Barao will know what to expect this time around, and be better prepared. Still, I'm not sure it'll be enough to recapture the title that was once his. Dillashaw has planted that seed of doubt, and it will have to take something special from Barao to once again become the Bantamweight Champion.

If the fight is to happen, I'd have to side with the champion to retain his title once again.


ALVIN CARTER, MMATORCH SPECIALIST

I think Bararo could recapture the belt on any given Saturday, but the real question is what is T.J. Dillashaw doing to keep it? He had a performance of a lifetime against Barao. Can he repeat a performance of that caliber against Barao? You really can't base this prediction on Barao's last fight because he might take his training to another level now that he has his confidence back, not to mention that he is trying to avenge a loss and regain the belt from the first man to beat him in almost a decade.


DAN MOORE, MMATORCH UK COLUMNIST

I had him marked as the underdog heading into their UFC 177 rematch that eventually never happened. After watching the Gagnon fight, I don't see any reason to change my opinion. Sure there are plenty of unanswered questions about Dillashaw. He's one of the UFC champions most likely to lose their title in 2015. But, he dominated Barao in the first fight, and Barao looked a tiny beat slower last weekend, so my money would be on Dillashaw to win again.