The co-main event at UFC 165 was between defending interim champion Renan Barao and Eddie Wineland for the bantamweight championship. Barao is coming in with a 20-fight win streak and looks to be one of the fastest rising superstars in the UFC.

Renan Barao Pulls Off Deadly Spinning Back Kick to Retain UFC Bantamweight Title

In the first round, both fighters were showing respect and keeping their distance. Both guys were throwing great combinations and tried to catch the other off-balance. As the fight went on, there was no clear upper hand in the first round. Both fighters landed some shots but didn’t take much damage. At the end of the first, the fight was really up in the air.

As the second round started, Barao was slowly finding his footing and let go of a few potentially devastating blow. While he missed the first few kicks of the round, Barao was showing great patience and waiting for his chances. Slowly but surely, Barao threw a spinning back kick and nailed Wineland right in the jaw. There was no coming back from that, and Barao pounded his way to a knockout victory.

Barao will now set his sights on Dominick Cruz, who is the current bantamweight champion but has been sidelined due to injury for quite some time. Dana White has already said that if Cruz is not ready in the coming winter, or early 2014, the UFC will have to make a decision about the belt.

By the looks of it, Barao is more than a worthy candidate to take over as the UFC’s bantamweight champion.