Dana White has decided to give Renan Barao another chance.
After he was knocked out by T.J. Dillashaw in May (snapping a 33-fight unbeaten streak), Barao was given an immediate rematch against the new champion in August. The fight never happened as Barao was replaced by Joe Soto on one-day’s notice after the Brazilian lost consciousness while cutting weight on the day of the weigh-ins.
“You got enough money to get a real nutritionist to go in there and watch what you’re eating,” an angry UFC President Dana White said of Barao after the incident. “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.”
Instead of cutting Barao outright, White has decided to give the fighter another chance as Barao has been booked to fight Mitch Gagnon on December 20 at UFC Fight Night 58. The fight was announced yesterday.
After losing his first fight in the UFC, Gagnon has pulled off four straight wins, three of which he finished via first-round submission.
UFC Fight Night 58 takes place at the Ginásio José Corrêa in Barueri, Brazil.
