Renan Barao’s tailspin continued at UFC Sao Paulo, as countryman Douglas Silva de Andrade broke him down over three rounds.
The rise and fall of former UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao has been well documented. On Saturday at UFC Sao Paulo, the former 135lb king again tried his hand at featherweight, hoping for some small reprieve from the downward spiral that had scuttled the career of a fighter once considered one of the best on the planet.
Barao’s opponent for UFC Sao Paulo was Douglas Silva de Andrade, who had been trading wins and losses heading into the bout, most recently against top featherweight contender Petr Yan.
The fight opened with Barao on the outside, Silva de Andrade on the hunt. He looked poised to throw some heavy leather, while the ex-champ was mobile, working his kicks. When Silva de Andrade fired kicks of his own, however, they had noticeably greater impact. Barao, by the midway point of the opening frame, opted to change levels, shooting and securing a takedown. Going to work from half-guard, Barao struggled to improve position, and soon enough the ref stood the pair up. That led to a flurry from Douglas Silva de Andrade while Barao covered up. Knees in the clinch from both men followed.
Barao was showing some damage to the face early in the second round. He’d land low with a kick, but Silva de Andrade had no desire to stop the action. Barao would once again land a takedown, earlier in the round this time. In guard he’d look to land some hamer fists, short punches, and blows to the body. Another stand-up would come soon enough, however. And again, once back on the feet, it was Silva de Andrade pressuring, taking a big swing that Barao just ducked before moving in for another takedown. This time, however, Silva de Andrade was able to defend successfully.
Silva de Andrade landing some nasty shots on Barao!#UFCSP pic.twitter.com/mNTtzIkU9V
— UFC (@ufc) November 16, 2019
Bloodied by the end of the second (with the doctor taking a look at a cut over his eye), Renan Barao entered the third very possibly down two rounds. In the third, he’d eat some big shots early. Silva de Andrade was looking dangerous, but Barao then shot for a single. He had it, briefly, but Silva de Andrade popped right back up. Not a good sign for the ex-champ, who has wobbled after eating a few more punches. Barao was firing back, but he was hurt. Things didn’t get much better, but he would go the distance.
In the end, Douglas Silva de Andrade was just too much for the former champ, who may have fought his last outing in the UFC.
Official Result: Douglas Silva de Andrade def. Renan Barao by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
