The Global Fight League have booked another rematch between former UFC stars.
As first reported by MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, Urijah Faber (35-11) is set to face off against Renan Barao (36-10, 1NC) for a third time. GFL officials later announced the match-up, which does not have a location or date as of yet.
Faber represents Team Los Angeles, and Barao Team Sao Paulo, in the GFL’s league-based format, which is expected to launch this Spring.
A former UFC title challenger and WEC featherweight champ, Faber has long been considered one of the best fighters to never win gold inside the UFC octagon. He faced Barao twice during their respective UFC runs, losing to the Brazilian in 2012 (for an interim bantamweight title) and then again in 2014 (for the undisputed title). “The California Kid,” now a middle-aged man at 45, has not fought since a 2019 loss against Petr Yan. Prior to that, he had ended a three-year retirement by defeating Ricky Simon.
Unlike Faber, Barao (who held gold from his 2012 interim title win to a May 2014 loss against T.J. Dillashaw) struggled immensely towards the end of his UFC run. He lost his final five fights in the company, then dropped a sixth on the regional circuit in 2023. Barao has not competed since.
In comparison to Urijah Faber at 45, Renan Barao is all but a spring chicken at 38 years young.
