UFC 173 Live: Renan Barao vs TJ Dillashaw

Photo by Stephen R. Sylvanie for USA Today Sports

by Dr. Octagon, J.D.

TJ Dillashaw (right) has been telling everyone, “I’m the underdog because he’s the champ.”

More like you’re the underdog because you’re coming off a one fight win streak and UFC bantamweight champ Renan Barao hasn’t lost since 2005. That said, the talk about Barao being the top pound-for-pound MMA fighter is fucking joke. No one is close to light heavyweight champ Jon Jones.

TJ’s a heavy underdog, but anything can happen in MMA and all the Team Alpha Male guys have improved since Duane Ludwig has been coaching there. Duane’s leaving now due to personality conflicts, but no one can deny that he’s brought a lot of success to Uriah Faber’s gym. A shitload of Brazilians made the trip to support Barao. We’re rooting for TJ though, because he’s from the USA. Live updates after the jump:[[MORE]]

Round 1: Leg kick from TJ. TJ is throwing hands, but whiffing so far. Leg kick form TJ. Big head kick from Barao just misses. Head kick from TJ blocked. Leg kick from TJ. Barao kicks the body. Leg kick from TJ. Superman punch from Dillashaw whiffs. TJ lands an uppercut. Body kick from Barao. Leg kick from Barao. TJ lands a pair of punches.

Spinning back kick to the body from Barao. Right hand from Barao. Body kick from Barao. Right lands for Barao. Leg kick lands for Dillashaw. Dillashaw lands again. Head kick from Dillashaw. Uppercut from Dillashaw misses. Left lands for Barao. Dillashaw comes forward and doesn’t land.

Big right to the head of Barao from Dillashaw. Barao goes down. He’s fucked up. Dillashaw pouring it on. Dillashaw lands again while Barao is on the ground and goes for the neck crank. Barao gets up and eats an uppercut. Head kick from Dillashaw.

10-8 Dillashaw.

Round 2: Left lands for Barao. Barao lands a right. Dillashaw is trying to finish the fight with every punch. Barao kicks to the head and misses. Left lands for Barao. Right lands for Barao. Dillashaw coming forward, but Barao fires back. Dillashaw’s eye is cut. Head kick from Dillashaw is blocked. Dillashaw lands a left. Leg kick from Dillashaw. Spinning back kick from Barao misses.

Dillashaw shoots, but nothing comes of it. Kick to the junk by Barao, the fight stops. Big right from Dillashaw misses. Barao lands a left hand. Barao lands a right. Dillashaw lands a left. Big right from TJ, then another. Barao lands a body kick. Dillashaw is carrying his hands low. Both fighters land punches. Three punches land for Baro. TJ lands a left, then a right.

10-9 Dillashaw.

Round 3: Body kick for Barao. Right lands for Dillashaw. Right lands for Barao. Left lands for TJ. Leg kick for Dillashaw. High kick for Dillashaw, but Barao lands a punch. Dillashaw landing punches. Barao lands a leg kick. High kick for Barao whiffs. Left lands for Barao. TJ lands a left. Leg kick for TJ. Big left for TJ. Pair of punches lands for Dillashaw.

TJ is picking apart Barao on the feet so far. Leg kick for Dillashaw. Body kick by Barao. Jab lands for Dillashaw. Barao’s face is bloody. Dillashaw is pouring it on. Left lands for Barao. Head kick by TJ, but it’s blocked. Head kick by Barao also blocked. Jab lands for Barao. Jab lands for Dillashaw. Left lands for TJ. Barao says he got poked in the eye as TJ tees off on him and referee Herb Dean refuses to stop the fight.

10-9 Dillashaw. I don’t see Barao winning this one on the cards at this point. He needs a knockout.

Round 4: TJ goes for a single, lets it go. Body kick by Barao. Head kick from TJ. Body kick by TJ. Right lands for Barao, but TJ fires back with a flurry of punches punctuated by a kick to the body. Big left from TJ. Spinning kick from Barao misses and Dillashaw swarms him, but Barao lands a punch.

TJ is landing a ton of punches. Barao looks flat. TJ pushes Barao against the fance and is working him over with knees. Barao lands a left hand. Barao kicks and falls down, TJ is on top and lands a few shots. Barao goes for a heel hook, but these guys are slippery as fuck at this point and TJ pulls out of it.

10-9 Dillashaw.

Round 5: Dillashaw just needs to survive here and the belt is his. No way Barao can win without a finish. TJ lands a leg kick. Jab lands for Dillashaw. Barao is throwing some spinning shit, but it isn’t landing. Both of Barao’s eyes look fucked up. Leg kick from Barao.

Right lands for Dillashaw. Head kick lands for Dillashaw, then a punch. Barao is hurt and on the ground, Dillashaw is looking for the finish with hammerfists. Herb Dean waves the fight off.  

TJ Dillashaw hugs Duane Ludwig, who is crying. Great sendoff from Team Alpha male for Duane Ludwig. Hard to believe that Duane is leaving the gym just after delivering a belt against one of the top fighters in the sport, but I’m sure he’ll have a lot of people following him to his new gym.

Usually when a long-reigning champ loses, he gets a rematch, but in this case, it didn’t look like Barao ever stood a chance. I did not see this coming. Rafael Assuncao, who beat Dillashaw last year, should probably get the first crack at him, but TJ looked like a different fighter tonight.