Poll: Will Renan Barao Ever Regain His Once-Dominant Form?

While it’s true that former UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao got back into the win column by submitting Mitch Gagnon in the co-main event of last night’s (Sat., December 20, 2014) UFC Fight Night 58, it’s also safe to say it  wasn’t his finest win.

Barao looked a little slower than usual after his failed weight cut prior to UFC 177, and his head movement was virtually nonexistent as he let Gagnon, who is know much more for his submissions than his striking, nail him with a ton of hooks.

There was obviously a ton of pressure on “The Baron” to pick up a win after he lost his title in a jaw dropping upset to TJ Dillashaw at UFC 173.

He got his fans the comeback victory they were holding their breath for, yet it was obvious that his movement level as an absolutely massive bantamweight is nowhere near that of Dillashaw or his next opponent, former champion Dominick Cruz.

Perhaps the loss to Dillashaw took a lot out of “The Baron,” perhaps the elite competition in his division has found the gameplan for defeating him. Either way, he looks like he’s a far cry from the time when he was being called the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter at the beginning of this year.

He said his goal is to regain the belt from “The Viper,” but based on his performance last night, will he be able to reach the top of the 135-pound division once again, or is his time as champion already done?

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