LAS VEGAS – With massive odds against him, T.J. Dillashaw not only defied them, but he made them look like they were inadvertently reversed.
Dillashaw dominated bantamweight champion Renan Barao to win the title, even as the Brazilian entered the fight as a favorite of as much as 10-to-1, and with many calling him the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. It was Barao’s first loss since 2005.
Dillashaw (10-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) outstruck Barao (32-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) at nearly every turn, planting him on the canvas in the first round and then never looking back, even when Barao tried to answer. But instead of cruising to a dominant decision win, Dillashaw stayed after the finish in the fifth round – ultimately putting the champion on the canvas with a left hand before pouncing to finish off the massive upset.
The bantamweight title fight headlined today’s UFC 173 main card at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. It aired on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.
Dillashaw appeared at ease from the outset. He danced outside early and threw a low kick. He tried a Superman punch nearly two minutes in. Then right after that, an uppercut was on the money. But he didn’t push in for the kill. He instead stayed patient – and then tagged the champion again seconds later.
Barao worked his way through it and landed a spinning kick to the body, then a straight right hand. But the story of the fight already had been established – Dillashaw leading the striking charge, and the champion trying to find an answer.
Dillashaw bounced on his feet and moved left and right, trying to keep Barao guessing. Barao moved forward, but Dillashaw continued to look to be first. And then, out of nowhere, Dillashaw landed a massive right hand and put Barao on the canvas. With 50 seconds to work, He dove in and landed punches. Barao tried to grab an ankle, but Dillashaw worked his way out of it. He went after chokes of his own as the clock ticked down, and Barao essentially had to be saved by the bell.
Dillashaw continued to dominate in the second and third rounds. Any time Barao came close to putting something together, Dillashaw seemed to walk right through it and land bigger and harder shots right after them, always mixing things up to keep Barao unsure of just what was coming next.
In the fourth, Barao’s gas tank seemed to be an issue, and after a missed kick, Barao slipped to the canvas and Dillashaw went to the ground with him landing elbows and punches, and seeing if a choke was there. But with 45 seconds left, after failing on a leg lock attempt, Barao dropped his head back to the canvas, exhausted.
In the fifth, rather than coasting his way to certain victory, Dillashaw kept going after it. And with Barao backed against the fence, Dillashaw poured it on. He landed punch after punch after punch and again dropped Barao. Dillashaw dove to the canvas and started pounding away until Herb Dean stepped in to stop it.
Cageside, Dillashaw’s Team Alpha Male teammates, including Urijah Faber, who twice failed to beat Barao for titles, were jubilant and in tears, as was departing head coach Duane “Bang” Ludwig.
The official stoppage came at the 2:22 mark of the final round.
“I’ve dreamed it for so long. It’s unbelievable. It’s the greatest feeling in the world,” Dillashaw said. “Barao’s the best in the world in my eyes. I’ve been looking up to the guy. That’s what brought it out in me. I knew I was fighting the best. I knew I had to bring my best to become the champion of the world.”
Up-to-the-minute UFC 173 results include:
