Renan Barao: I’m Here To Save The Event, I Hope The UFC Gives Me A Better Contract

UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao has cut path through the world’s best 135-pound fighters since obtaining the interim belt by defeating Urijah Faber at UFC 149 in July 2012.

He followed it by submitting Michael McDonald at UFC on Fuel TV 7, and then built his resume even further with an incredible spinning back kick finish of Eddie Wineland at UFC 165 last September.

Becoming the official UFC 135-pound champion after Dominick Cruz went down with a torn groin in January, Barao capitalized by finishing Faber with a technical knockout in the main event of UFC 169, running his unbeaten streak to an insane 33 fights.

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Currently sitting at the No. 3 spot in the pound-for-pound rankings, Barao wants to be paid like it. He recently spoke up to UOL Esporte (via Yahoo! Sports) to give his view that while he’s happy to be champion, he should be making more than “The California Kid,” whom he’s defeated twice:

“I’m very happy being a UFC champion. But I would like to improve my contract. Actually, an example: I know that Faber is a much older guy in the UFC, but he’s not even the champion and has a much better purse than mine. It is what it is; we’re working for it to improve. I hope that after this fight I can have a much better contract. I hope it improves every day. This depends on the contract, but I hope they remember that I saved an event.”

Barao has a good point on the surface, because he’s been the definition of dominant throughout his entire UFC tenure. However, he and Nova Uniao training mate Jose Aldo may be excellent as champions, but they simply don’t sell pay-per-views on their name alone. Faber does, so while he may not be able to beat Barao, he can certainly drive the currency that earns him his big paydays.

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Barao will have another chance to prove he can draw soon. He stepped in to face No. 5-ranked T.J. Dillashaw at May 24’s UFC 173 after previous headliner Chris Weidman went down with knee surgeries. It wasn’t the most optimal timing for Barao, but he said he was willing to save an event for the company:

“I prefer to rest a little more, but the UFC needed me, so I’m here to save the event. Unfortunately, Weidman got injured, so they called me and I accepted. It’s always good to fight in these big events, I was pretty happy.”

Will the UFC recognize that and pay Barao what he is asking?