Headlining UFC 173, Renan Barao defended his bantamweight title against TJ Dillashaw in a bout that would really solidify Barao as one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world. Going into this fight, there were only a few people that gave Dillashaw a chance in this fight. Barao has been simply spectacular and has dominated all challengers he has faced. With only a few fighters remaining, Dillashaw is one of the last contenders at the top of the division who can challenge Barao for his belt.
The first round started out slow with both fighters getting a feel for each other and throwing mostly kicks and extended punches. With one of the first big blows of the fight, Dillashaw was able to land a solid uppercut that did not seem to phase Barao. He continued to throw accurate blows and looked good while standing. On the other hand, Barao was able to display his world class counter punching by landing some impressive quick strikes. While things looked calm and collected, Dillashaw landed an unbelievable blow that was heard around the world. Dillashaw continued to pounce and was able to land some solid punches and ended the round by attempting a submission. Talk about expect the unexpected, Dillashaw walked away with a very dominant round and left fans on the edge of their seats.
As the second got underway, Barao looked to have recovered from Dillashaw’s devastating blow in the first and as using push kicks to keep the American at bay. Hoping to continue his success, Dillashaw continued to push forward showed great head movement to avoid much of Barao’s punches. Even though he seemed okay, Dillashaw was cut above the right eye and started to bleed quite a bit as they hit the halfway mark of the second. Regardless, Dillashaw continued to land the more accurate punches and walked away with another victory in the second round.
The third round was much of the same for Dillashaw, as he continued to dominate in the striking game and landed some very impressive blows on Barao. Barao seemed a lot slower and Dillashaw took full advantage of every mistake. His head movement was world class up to this point and his accuracy was nothing short of a shocking surprise. Barao was a completely different fighter and was completely outclassed by Dillashaw for three rounds. With that said, it all came down to the final two rounds, as Barao would likely need a finish to retain the title.
As the fourth rolled around, Dillashaw’s head kicks and jabs become a force for Barao to deal with. He was getting tagged and even when Barao would land a couple shots, Dillashaw would keep pushing forward and continue to throw great combos. There seemed to be no opportunity for Barao to gain an upper hand and Dillashaw was able to change up his offense and continue to attack with spontaneous and accurate strikes. As the round came to a close, Dillashaw was able to gain top position and started teeing off with some equally impressive ground-and-pound. Without a doubt, Dillashaw walked away with four rounds under his belt and it all came down to the last five minutes for Barao.
The fifth and final round was a nail-biter for so many reasons. Barao needed a finish to retain his belt and Dillashaw was five minutes way from pulling off one of the biggest upsets in MMA history. Everyone seemed to be hoping for Barao to make a comeback but there seemed to be no chance. As Dillashaw continued to throw accurate blows, he was able to land an array of punches that sent Barao to the mat, winning him the bantamweight championship in one of the most epic ways possible.
