Dana White On Dillashaw vs. Barao Rematch: I Want To See That Fight Again

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After TJ Dillashaw scored one of the biggest upsets in UFC history by finishing formerly dominant bantamweight champion Renan Barao in his first-ever main event at UFC 173, speculation immediately began as to who ‘The Viper’s’ next opponent would be.

The division was now much more wide open as compared to before UFC 173, when Barao was thought to be gaining ground on Jon Jones and Jose Aldo as the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter.

Dillashaw put that notion to bed by defeating Barao in a fight that wasn’t close at all, and No. 3-ranked Raphael Assuncao, who beat Dillashaw with a controversial split decision at last October’s UFC Fight Night 29, was thought to be the rightful next challenger.

But today, it appears that is not the case, as Dana White elaborated on the 135-pound title scene at today’s UFC 174 weigh-ins. His words to MMA Junkie:

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“[Dillashaw’s next fight] probably will be the Barao rematch. Tell me if I’m wrong. I think we sat there and we started looking through the list of guys to fight T.J., and there is a list of guys, which is a great thing, but how do you not give it to Barao, the guy who was undefeated all those years? I agree he got a five-round a– whooping and got finished, but how does it make sense to not give him the rematch? And who doesn’t want to see it?

When you watch that fight last time, people were losing their minds because nobody saw that coming. They go in there and put on an unbelievable war. Is that not what you want to see again?

Interesting. Many people may want to see it, and Barao certainly wants another crack at the new champ after eating a massive right hand in the first round and never recovering. There’s not much question that he wasn’t himself that night, but how much of that was his own preparation (or lack thereof), and how much of it was Dillashaw’s flawless gameplan, speed, movement, and execution?

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It’s looks like we’re going to find out. But as always with the UFC, nothing is concrete until we see the fighters sign on the dotted line (or step into the Octagon, for that matter).

And as for the trend of rematches in the UFC, White was quick to fire back when presented the question, noting that boxing does many more than his promotion:

“How about (boxers Manny) Pacquiao and (Juan Manuel) Marquez are going to fight for fifth f—ing time, and you think we do too many rematches? I think if you look at a fight like Barao and Dillashaw, the guy went undefeated for 10 years and lost one fight. I want to see that fight again. [Losing again] puts Barao in a really bad spot, but then Barao gets in line and continues to fight and we see where it goes from there.”

Imagine we do the Barao fight and it sets up all these fights. We’ve got Dominick Cruz in there, as well. Guess what: Everything we’re saying is a home run.”

He may have a couple good points here, but at the heart of the matter, Assuncao simply isn’t a pay-per-view draw and it’s unknown when former champion Dominick Cruz will be able to return.

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Do you agree with White’s decision here? Or should Barao have been forced to work his way back up to a title shot after literally having no answer for ‘The Viper’s’ rapidly improving skillset?

Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie for USA TODAY Sports