TJ Dillashaw Predicts Third Round Finish In Rematch With Renan Barao

After a full year of trash talk and anticipation, UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw is ready to finally put his rivalry with former champion Renan Barao to rest.

‘The Viper’ famously destroyed the once-dominant ‘Baron’ in 2014’s most shocking fight in the main event of last May’s UFC 173. The two were then scheduled for a pair of rematches, but Barao withdrew from the first at UFC 177 when he passed out cutting weight, and a rib injury to Dillashaw pushed the bout out of the headlining spot at April 25’s UFC 186.

Now the two will do battle in the main event of July 25’ UFC on FOX 16 from Chicago, Illinois. Dillashaw is focused and eager for the fight, as some recent trash from Barao deeming him ‘not a true champion’ has him a bit amused. The titleholder told Submission Radio that Barao might just be trying to keep himself relevant by hiding the fact that he was simply owned in their first match-up:

“I mean obviously he has to come back with something to stay relevant. If I’m not a champion, then he just got dominated by someone that he doesn’t think is a champion. That’s kind of funny to me as well. So I think he’s just trying to stay relevant, act like he’s got a shot in this fight and talk as much crap as possible.”

Dillashaw said he was surprised at the new smack talk-spewing side of Barao; something we haven’t normally seen from the usually reserved and quiet Brazilian. He’s now threatened to ‘kick Dillashaw’s ass’ at the staredowns, and that’s something the champion only thinks will harm his abilities in the Octagon:

“It’s kinda funny because I’ve never seen it from him, and now that I’ve beat him, he’s got something to prove, and I think it’s going to hinder his performance in the long run. I mean if he’s going to come out and fight with anger, or the fact that he’s having to disguise being nervous, you know, one of the two. I don’t know what it is, but he’s definitely changed who he was. I’ve never seen him talk crap before in any kind of staredowns or in the media, and now I put him in that place which, you know to me it’s nothing but a confidence builder for me.”

Dillashaw revealed his mindset going into the rematch, noting that he has to prepare for a different Barao in what could be a much more trying fight. But in the end, he won’t be surprised if it does end up going like the first fight did:

“I gotta expect a different fight, but you know I’m thinking it’s going to be the same, but I gotta prepare for a different Renan Barao. I mean he’s maybe changed some things up, which I’ve been calculating myself and watching my fight and thinking of what his game plan is going to be to try and beat me and being ready for it. I can’t underestimate how he’s going to be. I gotta expect the hardest fight, five round war. And if goes my way easily again then so be it, but I’m going to prepare for the worst.”

With that said, Dillashaw offered up his prediction for the fight. This time around, ‘The Viper’ believes a stoppage will come earlier than it in the first bout:

“Finishing him in the third round. I’m going to finish him. Probably TKO once again.”