TJ Dillashaw vs. Renan Barao 2 headlines UFC 186
UFC Bantamweight Champion, TJ Dillashaw (11-2), will defend the title for the second time at UFC 186. He will face the man who he took the title away from in the first place, Renan Barao (33-2, 1 NC), on Apr. 25 at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
The 5-round championship bout was announced by UFC President, Dana White, on TSN SportCentre Saturday evening.
In their first bout – at UFC 173 last May – Dillashaw shocked the world when he picked Barao apart for four rounds before finishing the Brazilian in the fifth round via TKO to capture the gold in Las Vegas. The 28-year-old Team Alpha Male fighter earned both the Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses.
Three months later at UFC 177, Barao would receive an immediate rematch in Dillashaw’s hometown of Sacramento. However, on the day of weigh-ins, not only could “The Baron” make weight, he would pull out of the bout after being admitted to the hospital. He was replaced by promotional newcomer, Joe Soto, who would suffer the same fate as Barao in May, losing via fifth-round TKO. Dillashaw would earn the Performance of the Night again in his first successful title defense.
At UFC Fight Night 58, Barao bounced back in a big way in his home country of Brazil. The 27-year-old product of Nova Uniao would make weight before submitting Mitch Gagnon in the third round with an Arm Triangle Choke. He earned the Performance of the Night for his December win.
In addition to the bantamweight title rematch, Fabio Maldonado will meet the returning Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 186. Rory MacDonald vs. Hector Lombard, Michael Bisping vs. CB Dollaway, and Patrick Cote vs. Joe Riggs will also take place in Montreal.
