Renan Barao making move back down to bantamweight following short stint at 145 pounds

Former UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao has decided to leave his new home at 145 pounds and return to a division that he once dominated, per a recent report by Combate.

Barao, 30, was forced out of the bantamweight division after a horrendous weight cut for his rematch with then champion T.J. Dillashaw. After making his move up to featherweight, Barao put together a 1-1 record, losing to Jeremy Stephens at UFC Fight Night 88 and most recently defeating Phillipe Nover via decision at UFC Fight Night 95.

According to the report, Barao has been training at a lighter weight in preparation for an easier cut down to 135 pounds.

Despite his lackluster rebound after losing his title to Dillashaw back in 2015, Barao is still one of the most excited fighters on the bantamweight roster. He may never claim UFC gold again, but the Brazilian is more than capable of testing the top 10 on a year-to-year basis.

Assuming everything goes well with Barao’s new weight management program, he’ll be back inside the Octagon by the end of the year. While “The Baron” has no opponent lined up for his return to 135 pounds, John Dodson, Bryan Caraway, John Lineker, Aljamain Sterling, Jimmie Rivera and Thomas Almeida are all plausible options.