Wow...Barao

[MikalP]

Dudes been fighting for 13 years BUT YEAH TOTALLY USADA

 

[SKITZADACTYL]

The clock-watching when he was against the cage was a bit telling.

Edit: He was definitely fighting back though.

if he just wanted a paycheck he wouldn't be cutting back down to 135.

 

[GordoBarraBJJ]

Obviously UDADA and the IV ban and perhaps other things.

 

[welcometohavoc]

Seriously, wtf has happened to him??

I think he lost his killer instinct after the TJ fight. Every fight since he's looked tentative and gun shy at times.

 

[MadDogMahoney]

if he just wanted a paycheck he wouldn't be cutting back down to 135.

Not necessarily. Just what it looked like to me dude.

 

[aerius]

Seriously, wtf has happened to him??

The bathtub cracked his chin and took his soul.

 

[Kingofthestreets]

The final of this fight sure had some 'Diego/Gil' to it, i liked the spirit from both of them.
Barao has had a long carrer and been dominant for a long time, I Think he is simply burned out, his doesnt have that killer edge to him that he had a few years ago. We see alot of that with the veterans, Thiago got murked like last card? Another guy that seemed to be on top in Pat Healy also just bruned out, same with gray Maynard.
The body and mind only has so much fight in it, these prize fighters are just meat for the grinder.

 

[kuka45]

Dudes been fighting for 13 years BUT YEAH TOTALLY USADA

How come? Fighters after 13 years of fighting and dozens of fights should be in top physical form and shape, no injuries, no fatigue, no declining, it never happen before.

 

[SalvadorAllende]

I think he got too big for BW but somehow does not want to be at 145.

Also Im going to get hate for this but there is a chance he was never that good. Is not like he beat a murderers row in his run. Faber is his best win by far and a lot of people beat Faber.

BW division is just so much better now too.

 

[kingT]

Some fighters can't come back after a devastating loss(es). This appears to be the case with Barao after his fights with TJ. Same can be said about:
- Junior Dos Santos after the Cain fights.
- Maynard after the Edgar fights
- Jose Aldo after his loss to Mcgregor
- Pettis after losing to Dos Anjos
- Mcman after the Rousey fight
- Shogun after the Jon Jones fight
- BJ Penn after the Edgar fights
- Darwin after the Dos Santos beat down
And so many other examples

 

[Nabs]

I think he got too big for BW but somehow does not want to be at 145.

Also Im going to get hate for this but there is a chance he was never that good. Is not like he beat a murderers row in his run. Faber is his best win by far and a lot of people beat Faber.

BW division is just so much better now too.

Nah...I think he was good. He just got matched w TJ as he was getting to another level. I remember most people thought TJ wasn't ready for primetime and that it was gonna be an easy win for Renan. I think he just lost his mojo after those 2 one sided beatdowns. On top of that, he hasn't evolved w the game either.

 

[Nihongi]

Saw somebody say it in the PBP thread and it's true; The fighter TJ knocked down in the first round of their fight is not the same fighter who got up.

It's been five years and he's still rocked.

 

[Sir Galahad]

After the loss to TJ things went south for Barao.

 

[Kaiokenrye24]

Years of bad weight cuts probably hurt him

 

[Zmurri]

It could be USADA or it could be better competition.

TJ is a killer. Stephens is probably the biggest guy Barao has faced. Sterling is an excellent wrestler. Who did Barao fight before his first TJ loss who was as bad a talent/size/style match up for him? An aged Urijah Faber and an inexperienced McDonald are about as good as his competition got. And this is not to say that Barao was a can crusher. Just that tougher competition can yield harsh results.

I don’t think he would have lost to Kelleher pre-TJ, but after a string of bad beatings and confidence-wrecking losses, here we are.

 

[Zmurri]

I think he got too big for BW but somehow does not want to be at 145.

Also Im going to get hate for this but there is a chance he was never that good. Is not like he beat a murderers row in his run. Faber is his best win by far and a lot of people beat Faber.

BW division is just so much better now too.

Just saw this. I entered the thread to make a similar point, except I think Barao was very good. Just not as good as his later competition.

 

[SilverHorizon]

One key thing that a lot of guys suffer from post usada is lack of that killer aggression. People like Pettis, Belfort, Barao, Dos Anjos were faaaar more aggressive and had a insane killer instinct. The difference now is just super obvious.

 

[Amerikuracana]

145 is calling. He almost got finished, but still showed some of what made him great. Loss of confidence affects a lot.

 

[Killuminati0947]

Don’t like accusing guys of PEDs, but he has changed more than anyone in USADA era. Maybe not as much a Hendricks now that I think about.

 

[Mask Of Winters]

One key thing that a lot of guys suffer from post usada is lack of that killer aggression. People like Pettis, Belfort, Barao, Dos Anjos were faaaar more aggressive and had a insane killer instinct. The difference now is just super obvious.

Less testosterone = less aggressiveness every time. So many fighters now are basically Popeye without the spinach.