Career Averages - Brian Kelleher
Career Averages - Renan Barão
Brian Kelleher - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Gibson | 0 | 2 of 12 | 16% | 2 of 13 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
| Brian Kelleher | 0 | 13 of 24 | 54% | 18 of 30 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 1 | 0 | 2:38 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Gibson | 0 | 2 of 12 | 16% | 2 of 13 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
| Brian Kelleher | 0 | 13 of 24 | 54% | 18 of 30 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 1 | 0 | 2:38 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Gibson | 2 of 12 | 16% | 0 of 8 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Brian Kelleher | 13 of 24 | 54% | 9 of 19 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 18 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Gibson | 2 of 12 | 16% | 0 of 8 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 12 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Brian Kelleher | 13 of 24 | 54% | 9 of 19 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 18 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Gibson (-205), Kelleher (+170)
Round 1
Rounding out the rocky prelims is an aging 135er with a .500 record in the promotion against a fellow fighter over the age of 35 a loss away from reaching the dreaded “Sinosic Line.” Gibson (19-10, 1-5 UFC) is not the only fighter to sport this record of 1-5 with the potential to go 1-6 tonight, but more on that later. He battles the hyper-aggressive Kelleher (24-15, 8-8 UFC), and this one has the potential of ending in the blink of an eye. Referee Kerry Hatley is ready for whatever happens next, and that is a touch of gloves. Kelleher immediately goes on the offensive with a leg kick and a front kick. Gibson gives him back an overhand right to make Kelleher take a funny step back, and he connects with two more punches that make Kelleher turn away and have to recover. Kelleher gets back to the middle of the cage and kicks a few more times, and he is reached with a front kick by “The Renegade.” Gibson connects with a calf kick, and he misses with a one-two. Kelleher races forward swinging fists, and Gibson grabs hold of him and manages to take his back standing to wrench him down to a knee. Kelleher pops back up, but the second effort for Gibson succeeds. Kelleher tries to set up a guillotine choke, and Gibson frees himself and assumes top position. Kelleher fights his way back to his feet in a hurry, and Gibson grinds on him as he looks for a mat return. Gibson succeeds in putting Kelleher down for a second, only for “Boom” to explode to his feet again. Kelleher hand-fights to spin out but eats a knee on the break. Gibson races after him with an uppercut and a slashing elbow, and he pushes Kelleher to the fence. Kelleher welcomes him with a knee, and Gibson gives him a few back. Kelleher turns eats an elbow that drops him to a knee, but Kelleher recovers and pursues a takedown. Gibson turns him away and attacks for his own takedown, leading to Kelleher jumping guard for a guillotine choke.
“The Renegade” breaks out of the choke and moves into half guard, where he almost instantly locks down an arm-triangle choke. Kelleher is stuck in a precarious position, and when he tries to fight out of it, he finds that Gibson is an immovable stone on his body. Kelleher surrenders before going out,
and tonight has its first finish. Gibson earns his first victory since his first stint in the promotion in 2014, and he is elated to get his hand raised in the Octagon for the second time.
The Official Result
Cody Gibson def. Brian Kelleher R1 3:58 via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
Angelo picks Cody Gibson because he is the more focused fighter with length and cardio, while Brian Kelleher is past his prime and on a three-fight skid. However, he is not confident at the favorite price and notes that Kelleher's losses have been to top competition. He considers an inside the distance/decision no action bet on Gibson.
Cody picks Gibson, citing his size advantage (5'10" reach vs 5'6"), durability, and volume. He notes Kelleher's age (38), neck injury, and recent inactivity. He thinks Gibson can outwork Kelleher and that Kelleher's path to victory via guillotine is unlikely. He calls both fighters 'expired milk' but leans Gibson.
Daniel Vreeland reluctantly picks Brian Kelleher, despite initially favoring Cody Gibson. He notes Gibson's tendency to fade in fights, citing the Ray Borg and Brad Katona fights where Gibson was winning early but fell apart. Vreeland believes Kelleher can survive early and take over late, possibly by submission or TKO.
Gibson is a favorite at -185. He has a 4-inch height and 7-inch reach advantage, which he can use to keep Kelleher at bay with his boxing and kicks. Kelleher is on a three-fight losing streak and approaching 38, showing signs of decline. Gibson needs to be wary of Kelleher's guillotine, but he should be able to dictate the pace and win a decision.
Paul also picks Gibson, agreeing that wrestling will be negated and that Gibson's volume will be key. He notes Gibson's close fight with Brad Katona where he landed 164 significant strikes. He thinks Kelleher's guillotine is a threat but not enough to overcome Gibson's output.
The MMA Guru picks Cody Gibson despite previously saying he'd never pick him again. He notes Gibson might be able to hurt Kelleher, who is 37 and has been inactive with multiple neck surgeries. He points to Kelleher's recent first-round losses to Umar Nurmagomedov, Cody Garbrandt, and Mario Bautista, and questions his dedication. Gibson's close fight with Miles Johns is seen as a positive.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Garbrandt | 1 | 20 of 41 | 48% | 21 of 42 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:21 |
| Brian Kelleher | 0 | 17 of 25 | 68% | 21 of 29 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:36 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Garbrandt | 1 | 20 of 41 | 48% | 21 of 42 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:21 |
| Brian Kelleher | 0 | 17 of 25 | 68% | 21 of 29 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:36 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Garbrandt | 20 of 41 | 48% | 16 of 37 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 16 of 35 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Brian Kelleher | 17 of 25 | 68% | 9 of 13 | 1 of 3 | 7 of 9 | 17 of 24 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cody Garbrandt | 20 of 41 | 48% | 16 of 37 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 16 of 35 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Brian Kelleher | 17 of 25 | 68% | 9 of 13 | 1 of 3 | 7 of 9 | 17 of 24 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Cody Garbrandt, stating he should dominate everywhere, but worries about his chin and tendency to brawl. He notes that if Cody shows patience, he is a confident pick. He is unsure about betting due to chin concerns.
Big Brady picks Brian Kelleher to win by knockout, despite acknowledging Garbrandt is more skilled. He notes Garbrandt's chin issues (4 KO losses) and washed performances, while Kelleher has power and a guillotine threat. Brady believes Kelleher will force exchanges and land a big shot, putting Garbrandt out. He also notes Garbrandt has zero submissions, so a sub win is unlikely.
Cody picks Garbrandt, arguing that he is better in every aspect of martial arts except durability. He notes that Kelleher's only path is a knockout, but Kelleher has only two KO wins in six years. Cody believes Garbrandt will fight smart behind his jab and potentially win by decision or finish. He acknowledges the chin concern but thinks Kelleher is not the guy to exploit it.
Lucrative James picks Brian Kelleher as the underdog. After rewatching Cody Garbrandt's last fight against Trevin Jones, he saw Cody was hesitant, got wobbled, and taken down multiple times. He believes Cody's chin issues could resurface if Kelleher catches him. He acknowledges Kelleher's age (37) and two-fight losing streak but thinks Cody is not a minus 250 fighter.
The host is high on Kelleher as a plus 185 underdog, questioning how Garbrandt can be such a heavy favorite given his recent tentative style and chin issues. He believes Kelleher's aggression, durability, and grappling edge will be key. He expects Kelleher to crash the pocket, land big shots, and possibly finish Garbrandt. The only concern is Kelleher returning from neck surgery, but he thinks even 70% of Kelleher is enough to pull the upset.
Paul picks Garbrandt, stating that skill for skill, this fight is not competitive. He notes that Garbrandt is much faster on the feet and that Kelleher is not a murderous power puncher. Paul points to Garbrandt's last fight against Trevin Jones where he fought smart and stayed out of trouble. He believes Garbrandt will box Kelleher up and potentially win by decision or TKO.
The Guru picks Cody Garbrandt over Brian Kelleher, noting Kelleher's recent losses and decline. He believes the matchup is designed for Garbrandt to get a KO win on a big card. He predicts Garbrandt will win by TKO in the second round.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Bautista | 0 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Brian Kelleher | 0 | 6 of 17 | 35% | 6 of 17 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 1:28 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mario Bautista | 0 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Brian Kelleher | 0 | 6 of 17 | 35% | 6 of 17 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 1:28 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Bautista | 2 of 3 | 66% | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Brian Kelleher | 6 of 17 | 35% | 3 of 14 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mario Bautista | 2 of 3 | 66% | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Brian Kelleher | 6 of 17 | 35% | 3 of 14 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
Angelo picks Brian Kelleher in a tough, close fight. He notes both fighters are similar busy strikers who can grapple, but gives the edge to Kelleher's experience and physicality at 135 pounds. His main worry is Kelleher's negative striking differential, but he believes if Kelleher brings the same grappling he showed against Kevin Crume or Domingo Pilarte, he gets the win. He expects a razor-thin decision.
Big Brady picks Mario Bautista to win by decision. He highlights Bautista's significant size and reach advantages (3-inch height, 5-inch reach), superior striking, and underrated grappling. He notes that Kelleher has been submitted seven times and Bautista has submission skills, but expects the fight to stay standing where Bautista's youth and size will be decisive. He mentions Kelleher's durability (only one KO in 37 fights) but sees Bautista winning a decision.
Cody thinks Bautista is dynamic with good striking and wrestling. He notes Kelleher relies on takedowns and if he can't take Bautista down, he'll be out struck. He expects Bautista to win a decision.
Paul agrees with Cody, adding nothing to dispute.
The host picks Mario Bautista, noting Brian Kelleher looks old and slow at 35. He believes Bautista has good grappling and won't be exposed there, and that Kelleher struggles against step-up competition. He predicts a third-round TKO for Bautista, citing Bautista's training with Sean O'Malley and other top bantamweights.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Umar Nurmagomedov | 0 | 1 of 19 | 5% | 1 of 19 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
| Brian Kelleher | 0 | 18 of 26 | 69% | 21 of 29 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 1 | 0 | 1:27 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Umar Nurmagomedov | 0 | 1 of 19 | 5% | 1 of 19 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
| Brian Kelleher | 0 | 18 of 26 | 69% | 21 of 29 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 1 | 0 | 1:27 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Umar Nurmagomedov | 1 of 19 | 5% | 0 of 13 | 0 of 4 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 18 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Brian Kelleher | 18 of 26 | 69% | 9 of 15 | 7 of 9 | 2 of 2 | 13 of 21 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Umar Nurmagomedov | 1 of 19 | 5% | 0 of 13 | 0 of 4 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 18 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Brian Kelleher | 18 of 26 | 69% | 9 of 15 | 7 of 9 | 2 of 2 | 13 of 21 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Umar confidently, calling him a clear pick and a parlay piece. He highlights Umar's fantastic chain wrestling and constant pressure. He notes Kelleher doesn't have one-punch KO power, so even if Umar is hittable, it won't matter. He mentions the betting line movement favoring Umar.
Big Brady picks Umar Nurmagomedov to win by submission in the second round. He is very high on Umar's skills, noting his fast striking, good wrestling, and scrambling ability. Brady points out that Kelleher has been submitted six times and has poor takedown defense (60%). He believes Umar will be able to take Kelleher down and submit him, especially given Kelleher's tendency to give up takedowns and go for guillotines. Brady also notes Umar's youth and potential for improvement.
Cody is extremely high on Umar, calling him a future champion. He praises Umar's striking, takedown entries, and pace. He bet the under 2.5 rounds at +130, expecting an early finish. Cody notes Kelleher's only path is a guillotine, but Umar is too well-rounded and will dominate everywhere.
Daniel Levi picks Umar Nurmagomedov to win by decision. He praises Umar's kicking game and grappling, and believes Kelleher will be outmatched. He notes that Kelleher is a tough veteran but Umar is too much. He predicts Umar will win a decision, possibly a dominant one.
Nurmagomedov is a well-rounded fighter with excellent striking and grappling. Kelleher's only path is a knockout, but Nurmagomedov will use his kicks to maintain distance and then take the fight to the ground where he is dominant. Kelleher is durable and has good submission defense, but Nurmagomedov should control the fight and win a decision. The minus 675 is too steep for parlays, but Nurmagomedov via decision is a solid prop.
Paul echoes Cody's sentiment, calling Umar the complete package with elite wrestling and striking. He notes Umar's performance against Sergey Morozov was dominant and his pace is relentless. Paul believes Kelleher's only chance is to catch Umar in a guillotine, but Umar is too skilled. He plans to include Umar in a parlay with Colby.
The MMA Guru picks Umar Nurmagomedov over Brian Kelleher, calling it a no-brainer. He highlights Nurmagomedov's dominant win over Sergey Morozov and sees him as a rising threat in the bantamweight division. He criticizes Kelleher's recent performance against Kevin Croom, noting he looked slow and old. He predicts Nurmagomedov will out-strike Kelleher early, take his back, and secure a rear-naked choke in the second round, similar to his debut finish.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Kelleher | 1 | 38 of 77 | 49% | 67 of 123 | 6 of 8 | 75% | 0 | 0 | 6:26 |
| Kevin Croom | 0 | 60 of 174 | 34% | 83 of 206 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:47 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brian Kelleher | 1 | 11 of 29 | 37% | 15 of 35 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:17 |
| Kevin Croom | 0 | 33 of 88 | 37% | 43 of 104 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:24 | |
| 2 | Brian Kelleher | 0 | 14 of 25 | 56% | 22 of 34 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:43 |
| Kevin Croom | 0 | 22 of 72 | 30% | 34 of 86 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:23 | |
| 3 | Brian Kelleher | 0 | 13 of 23 | 56% | 30 of 54 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 0 | 0 | 4:26 |
| Kevin Croom | 0 | 5 of 14 | 35% | 6 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Kelleher | 38 of 77 | 49% | 25 of 58 | 12 of 17 | 1 of 2 | 25 of 58 | 3 of 5 | 10 of 14 |
| Kevin Croom | 60 of 174 | 34% | 36 of 141 | 11 of 16 | 13 of 17 | 58 of 168 | 2 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brian Kelleher | 11 of 29 | 37% | 7 of 24 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 26 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Kevin Croom | 33 of 88 | 37% | 17 of 68 | 6 of 8 | 10 of 12 | 32 of 84 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Brian Kelleher | 14 of 25 | 56% | 8 of 15 | 5 of 8 | 1 of 2 | 12 of 23 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 |
| Kevin Croom | 22 of 72 | 30% | 14 of 61 | 5 of 7 | 3 of 4 | 22 of 72 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Brian Kelleher | 13 of 23 | 56% | 10 of 19 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 9 | 1 of 2 | 8 of 12 |
| Kevin Croom | 5 of 14 | 35% | 5 of 12 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 1 | 4 of 12 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Big Brady notes the significant age and reach advantage for Croom, who is 26 and has a 5-inch reach edge. He praises Croom's wrestling and grappling, and expects him to exploit Kelleher's 59% takedown defense. He predicts Croom will win a decision, though he acknowledges Kelleher is dangerous with submissions off his back.
Cody picks Kakhramonov, highlighting his wrestling, size, and cardio. He notes Kelleher's wrestling won't be effective and Kakhramonov's striking is solid. He expects Kakhramonov to win by decision or TKO. He mentions Kakhramonov's bright future.
Daniel Levi picks Brian Kelleher, noting that Croom took the fight on two weeks' notice and tends to fade as fights progress. He acknowledges Croom's dangerous guillotine early, but believes Kelleher's durability and cardio will allow him to take over in later rounds. Levi also mentions Kelleher's improved grappling, as seen in his last fight against Domingo Pilarte where he used takedowns to control the fight.
The host picks Brian Kelleher, citing his veteran experience and takedown defense against the grappler Kakaromanov. He expects Kelleher to stuff takedowns and land big shots on the feet, eventually knocking out Kakaromanov. The host notes Kakaromanov's striking is still developing and that Kelleher's power and pressure will be too much. He also mentions the under 2.5 rounds as a good bet.
Paul picks Kakhramonov, citing his impressive debut, wrestling base, and size advantage. He notes Kelleher's path is a guillotine, but Kakhramonov's wrestling should nullify that. He expects Kakhramonov to win via decision or late TKO. He calls -155 a fair price.
The MMA Guru picks Kevin Croom (Saidyokub Kakhramonov) to win by third-round submission. He trusts Croom's stand-up and grappling awareness, noting that he handled Trevin Jones well and has good takedown defense. He believes Kelleher will struggle to get takedowns and will slow down as the fight goes on, leading to a desperate shot that Croom will capitalize on with a guillotine or D'Arce choke. He predicts Croom will defend takedowns early, then submit Kelleher in the third round.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Kelleher | 0 | 28 of 40 | 70% | 236 of 279 | 3 of 3 | 100% | 2 | 1 | 12:49 |
| Domingo Pilarte | 0 | 3 of 11 | 27% | 117 of 159 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:29 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brian Kelleher | 0 | 13 of 19 | 68% | 68 of 89 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:50 |
| Domingo Pilarte | 0 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 35 of 49 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Brian Kelleher | 0 | 4 of 8 | 50% | 53 of 64 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 2 | 1 | 3:08 |
| Domingo Pilarte | 0 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 27 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:29 | |
| 3 | Brian Kelleher | 0 | 11 of 13 | 84% | 115 of 126 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:51 |
| Domingo Pilarte | 0 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 55 of 69 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Kelleher | 28 of 40 | 70% | 24 of 35 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 27 of 37 |
| Domingo Pilarte | 3 of 11 | 27% | 2 of 8 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 9 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brian Kelleher | 13 of 19 | 68% | 11 of 16 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 13 of 18 |
| Domingo Pilarte | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Brian Kelleher | 4 of 8 | 50% | 4 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 7 |
| Domingo Pilarte | 2 of 6 | 33% | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | |
| 3 | Brian Kelleher | 11 of 13 | 84% | 9 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 12 |
| Domingo Pilarte | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Big Brady picks Brian Kelleher, citing a massive gap in level of competition. He notes Kelleher has fought and lost to top bantamweights, while Pilarte has been dominated by lower-level fighters. He believes Kelleher is the better striker and grappler, despite Pilarte's reach advantage. He predicts a third-round knockout.
Cody picks Kelleher, expecting him to win inside the distance. He notes Kelleher's guillotine threat but worries about the reach disadvantage and weight cut. He believes Kelleher's superior striking and wrestling will be enough.
Kelleher is the much better striker with good volume and leg kicks. Pilarte has rudimentary striking, poor cardio, and has been close to being finished in recent fights. Kelleher's guillotine threat will deter takedowns. I'm picking Kelleher inside the distance, likely by knockout in the second round.
Paul picks Kelleher, citing his durability and better striking and wrestling. He notes Pilarte's weight cut issues and long layoff, and believes Kelleher can avoid Pilarte's submissions. However, he is not fully confident due to Kelleher's weight cut complaints.
The MMA Guru picks Brian Kelleher to win by guillotine choke in the first round. He criticizes Pilarte as a weight bully with a weak chin and poor cardio. He expects Kelleher to rock Pilarte with hooks, then catch him in a guillotine when Pilarte shoots for a single leg. He emphasizes Kelleher's toughness and finishing ability.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Kelleher | 0 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Ray Rodriguez | 0 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 1 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brian Kelleher | 0 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Ray Rodriguez | 0 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 1 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Kelleher | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Ray Rodriguez | 1 of 5 | 20% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brian Kelleher | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Ray Rodriguez | 1 of 5 | 20% | 0 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Big Brady picks Kelleher, citing his durability (only one KO loss in 32 fights) and experience. He thinks Kelleher can take a takedown and submit Natividad. He notes Natividad is a brawler who gets hit a lot and has been KO'd in 9 seconds before. He predicts a second-round submission.
Daniel Levi picks Brian Kelleher by guillotine finish. He notes that Kelleher is experienced and tends to beat lower-level opponents, but warns that Kelleher is unreliable as a big favorite. He acknowledges that newcomer Kevin Natividad has power and could upset if Kelleher underestimates him, but ultimately sides with Kelleher's experience.
The host picks Kelleher to win by first-round KO. He cites Kelleher's veteran experience, solid chin, and takedown defense. He notes Natividad's only loss was a 9-second KO and expects Kelleher to land a knockout punch early.
The MMA Guru picks Brian Kelleher, noting that his opponent Kevin Natividad (originally Ray Rodriguez was scheduled but changed) has a padded record with weak competition. He believes Kelleher's experience against top fighters will prevail, and expects a second-round submission. He mentions Kelleher's losses to high-level opponents and his ability to survive early pressure.
Renan Barão - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas Silva de Andrade | 0 | 74 of 163 | 45% | 100 of 190 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:28 |
| Renan Barão | 0 | 58 of 158 | 36% | 140 of 241 | 2 of 9 | 22% | 0 | 0 | 3:19 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Douglas Silva de Andrade | 0 | 21 of 43 | 48% | 36 of 59 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:28 |
| Renan Barão | 0 | 17 of 43 | 39% | 42 of 68 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:03 | |
| 2 | Douglas Silva de Andrade | 0 | 14 of 38 | 36% | 24 of 48 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Renan Barão | 0 | 17 of 46 | 36% | 74 of 103 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:14 | |
| 3 | Douglas Silva de Andrade | 0 | 39 of 82 | 47% | 40 of 83 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Renan Barão | 0 | 24 of 69 | 34% | 24 of 70 | 0 of 6 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas Silva de Andrade | 74 of 163 | 45% | 51 of 127 | 15 of 27 | 8 of 9 | 68 of 156 | 4 of 4 | 2 of 3 |
| Renan Barão | 58 of 158 | 36% | 31 of 115 | 14 of 25 | 13 of 18 | 49 of 147 | 7 of 8 | 2 of 3 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Douglas Silva de Andrade | 21 of 43 | 48% | 10 of 30 | 7 of 8 | 4 of 5 | 17 of 39 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Renan Barão | 17 of 43 | 39% | 4 of 24 | 7 of 9 | 6 of 10 | 11 of 37 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Douglas Silva de Andrade | 14 of 38 | 36% | 10 of 29 | 2 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 12 of 35 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 |
| Renan Barão | 17 of 46 | 36% | 11 of 35 | 4 of 8 | 2 of 3 | 14 of 42 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 | |
| 3 | Douglas Silva de Andrade | 39 of 82 | 47% | 31 of 68 | 6 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 39 of 82 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Renan Barão | 24 of 69 | 34% | 16 of 56 | 3 of 8 | 5 of 5 | 24 of 68 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luke Sanders | 0 | 40 of 78 | 51% | 41 of 79 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Renan Barão | 1 | 39 of 75 | 52% | 41 of 78 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke Sanders | 0 | 33 of 62 | 53% | 34 of 63 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Renan Barão | 0 | 25 of 48 | 52% | 27 of 51 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:16 | |
| 2 | Luke Sanders | 0 | 7 of 16 | 43% | 7 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Renan Barão | 1 | 14 of 27 | 51% | 14 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luke Sanders | 40 of 78 | 51% | 10 of 33 | 27 of 41 | 3 of 4 | 34 of 72 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Renan Barão | 39 of 75 | 52% | 26 of 58 | 6 of 8 | 7 of 9 | 34 of 70 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 3 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke Sanders | 33 of 62 | 53% | 7 of 24 | 23 of 35 | 3 of 3 | 27 of 56 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Renan Barão | 25 of 48 | 52% | 14 of 35 | 4 of 6 | 7 of 7 | 23 of 46 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Luke Sanders | 7 of 16 | 43% | 3 of 9 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 1 | 7 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Renan Barão | 14 of 27 | 51% | 12 of 23 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 2 | 11 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 |
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andre Ewell | 0 | 44 of 101 | 43% | 67 of 124 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 2 | 0 | 4:56 |
| Renan Barão | 1 | 53 of 123 | 43% | 57 of 128 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:28 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andre Ewell | 0 | 19 of 28 | 67% | 25 of 34 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 2 | 0 | 3:51 |
| Renan Barão | 1 | 4 of 9 | 44% | 7 of 13 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:28 | |
| 2 | Andre Ewell | 0 | 8 of 26 | 30% | 25 of 43 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:05 |
| Renan Barão | 0 | 20 of 46 | 43% | 21 of 47 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Andre Ewell | 0 | 17 of 47 | 36% | 17 of 47 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Renan Barão | 0 | 29 of 68 | 42% | 29 of 68 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andre Ewell | 44 of 101 | 43% | 23 of 61 | 12 of 25 | 9 of 15 | 26 of 82 | 2 of 2 | 16 of 17 |
| Renan Barão | 53 of 123 | 43% | 41 of 104 | 11 of 16 | 1 of 3 | 52 of 120 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andre Ewell | 19 of 28 | 67% | 13 of 19 | 5 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 10 | 2 of 2 | 15 of 16 |
| Renan Barão | 4 of 9 | 44% | 4 of 8 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | |
| 2 | Andre Ewell | 8 of 26 | 30% | 1 of 10 | 3 of 8 | 4 of 8 | 7 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Renan Barão | 20 of 46 | 43% | 10 of 35 | 9 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 20 of 46 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Andre Ewell | 17 of 47 | 36% | 9 of 32 | 4 of 9 | 4 of 6 | 17 of 47 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Renan Barão | 29 of 68 | 42% | 27 of 61 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 2 | 29 of 67 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Kelleher | 0 | 116 of 228 | 50% | 134 of 247 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 2:13 |
| Renan Barão | 0 | 94 of 203 | 46% | 145 of 256 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 4:23 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brian Kelleher | 0 | 30 of 65 | 46% | 38 of 73 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:05 |
| Renan Barão | 0 | 17 of 45 | 37% | 31 of 60 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:24 | |
| 2 | Brian Kelleher | 0 | 24 of 46 | 52% | 31 of 54 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:05 |
| Renan Barão | 0 | 16 of 28 | 57% | 45 of 58 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 2:28 | |
| 3 | Brian Kelleher | 0 | 62 of 117 | 52% | 65 of 120 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
| Renan Barão | 0 | 61 of 130 | 46% | 69 of 138 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:31 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Kelleher | 116 of 228 | 50% | 78 of 167 | 27 of 43 | 11 of 18 | 95 of 204 | 21 of 24 | 0 of 0 |
| Renan Barão | 94 of 203 | 46% | 74 of 175 | 13 of 21 | 7 of 7 | 86 of 195 | 8 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brian Kelleher | 30 of 65 | 46% | 16 of 42 | 8 of 15 | 6 of 8 | 22 of 56 | 8 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
| Renan Barão | 17 of 45 | 37% | 11 of 37 | 4 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 16 of 44 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Brian Kelleher | 24 of 46 | 52% | 14 of 32 | 9 of 10 | 1 of 4 | 17 of 39 | 7 of 7 | 0 of 0 |
| Renan Barão | 16 of 28 | 57% | 9 of 20 | 3 of 4 | 4 of 4 | 11 of 23 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Brian Kelleher | 62 of 117 | 52% | 48 of 93 | 10 of 18 | 4 of 6 | 56 of 109 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Renan Barão | 61 of 130 | 46% | 54 of 118 | 6 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 59 of 128 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 71 of 121 | 58% | 112 of 166 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 5:40 |
| Renan Barão | 0 | 19 of 85 | 22% | 65 of 138 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 4:33 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 11 of 17 | 64% | 22 of 31 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Renan Barão | 0 | 10 of 30 | 33% | 50 of 75 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:46 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 36 of 54 | 66% | 55 of 73 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:50 |
| Renan Barão | 0 | 4 of 17 | 23% | 5 of 20 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 24 of 50 | 48% | 35 of 62 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:50 |
| Renan Barão | 0 | 5 of 38 | 13% | 10 of 43 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:47 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 71 of 121 | 58% | 41 of 81 | 15 of 23 | 15 of 17 | 36 of 82 | 7 of 8 | 28 of 31 |
| Renan Barão | 19 of 85 | 22% | 10 of 65 | 6 of 13 | 3 of 7 | 9 of 70 | 2 of 2 | 8 of 13 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 11 of 17 | 64% | 5 of 9 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 5 | 8 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 |
| Renan Barão | 10 of 30 | 33% | 4 of 19 | 4 of 6 | 2 of 5 | 2 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 13 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 36 of 54 | 66% | 23 of 36 | 6 of 11 | 7 of 7 | 9 of 25 | 2 of 2 | 25 of 27 |
| Renan Barão | 4 of 17 | 23% | 2 of 11 | 1 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Aljamain Sterling | 24 of 50 | 48% | 13 of 36 | 7 of 9 | 4 of 5 | 19 of 44 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Renan Barão | 5 of 38 | 13% | 4 of 35 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 4 of 37 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Sterling goes upstairs with a left high kick, then goes to the lead leg of Barao, who answers with a slapping leg kick of his own. A few more Sterling kicks bounce off the forearms of Barao as the 140-pounders circle in the center of the cage. Sterling slips on a high kick and then grabs for a heel hook as Barao stands over him. Barao doesn't look to be in any trouble, his right leg fully extended as Sterling twists harmlessly on his ankle. Sterling releases the leg, triggering Barao to drive forward and pin the "Funkmaster" in guard. Barao advances to half guard on Sterling's left side, but Sterling quickly recovers full guard while threatening with a triangle setup. Sterling locks down both of Barao's arms to prevent striking; Barao pulls his left hand free and drops a few punches, then knees the New Yorker in the ribs as he passes to half again. Back to guard goes Sterling, now Barao posturing up with some left hands. Sterling throws up an armbar, can't get it; Barao stands up for a moment and then crashes back to the ground with a left hand for Sterling.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Barao
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Barao
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Barao
Round 2
Sterling gets twisted up while throwing a spinning elbow and takes a short right hook from Barao on the turn-around. Sterling throws a left high kick, then another moments later, and Barao perfectly times the second strike, chopping out Sterling's back leg and knocking him to the mat. Barao appears to catch a D'arce choke setup on his kneeling opponent, though he soon releases and allows Sterling to stand. Sterling rushes Barao against the fence, jumps on his back and rides the Brazilian to the ground. Sterling grabs for another leglock, this time a funky kneebar from the back, but Barao pulls the limb free. Sterling remains locked on Barao's back, now with a body triangle, as they hit the midway point of the round and the bout. Sterling postures up to throw punches from the back, and Barao begins to turtle up in a defensive shell. Just when it looks like Barao is fading, he explodes out of the bad position and drops to his back. Sterling unloads with a couple heavy elbows through Barao's guard, though he leaves his left arm dangling, allowing Barao to slow the attack by threatening with a triangle. Sterling scores with a few more elbows before the round ends, opening up a cut on Barao's face.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-8 Sterling
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-8 Sterling
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-8 Sterling
Round 3
Sterling hurts Barao with a front kick to the face in the opening seconds of the final frame, but the "Funkmaster" doesn't rush to finish, instead picking at his injured opponent with jabs from range. Sterling hustles Barao against the fence and pins him there with an underhook, staying active with some stomps to the Brazilian's feet. Referee Herb Dean twice calls for action in the clinch before separating the fighters. Barao tries to get something going by loading up on a big right hand, but it doesn't come close to connecting. Sterling comes back for another clinch, and again the action stalls out on the fence. Barao is chasing Sterling, still slinging punches but not finding much success. The ex-champion shoots for a double-leg at the fence, but it's stuffed by Sterling. The BJJ black belt spins to take Sterling's back with 30 seconds left. Sterling gets taken down, then stands with Barao still on his back. Sterling dives face-first to the ground, driving Barao's head into the canvas just before time runs out.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Sterling (29-27 Sterling)
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Sterling (29-27 Sterling)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Sterling (29-27 Sterling)
The Official Result
Aljamain Sterling def. Renan Barao via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 29-27, 29-28) R3 5:00
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renan Barão | 0 | 64 of 151 | 42% | 64 of 152 | 3 of 3 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:29 |
| Phillipe Nover | 0 | 39 of 141 | 27% | 54 of 157 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Renan Barão | 0 | 23 of 58 | 39% | 23 of 58 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Phillipe Nover | 0 | 11 of 41 | 26% | 11 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Renan Barão | 0 | 25 of 55 | 45% | 25 of 56 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:11 |
| Phillipe Nover | 0 | 13 of 48 | 27% | 13 of 49 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Renan Barão | 0 | 16 of 38 | 42% | 16 of 38 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:18 |
| Phillipe Nover | 0 | 15 of 52 | 28% | 30 of 67 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renan Barão | 64 of 151 | 42% | 27 of 98 | 14 of 22 | 23 of 31 | 58 of 142 | 6 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
| Phillipe Nover | 39 of 141 | 27% | 25 of 119 | 10 of 17 | 4 of 5 | 32 of 133 | 6 of 7 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Renan Barão | 23 of 58 | 39% | 9 of 38 | 2 of 4 | 12 of 16 | 23 of 58 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Phillipe Nover | 11 of 41 | 26% | 9 of 37 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 1 | 11 of 41 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Renan Barão | 25 of 55 | 45% | 9 of 33 | 6 of 10 | 10 of 12 | 23 of 51 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Phillipe Nover | 13 of 48 | 27% | 8 of 40 | 4 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 11 of 46 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Renan Barão | 16 of 38 | 42% | 9 of 27 | 6 of 8 | 1 of 3 | 12 of 33 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Phillipe Nover | 15 of 52 | 28% | 8 of 42 | 4 of 7 | 3 of 3 | 10 of 46 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 1 |
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremy Stephens | 0 | 43 of 137 | 31% | 51 of 146 | 2 of 9 | 22% | 0 | 0 | 2:28 |
| Renan Barão | 0 | 55 of 140 | 39% | 73 of 158 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 2:23 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremy Stephens | 0 | 15 of 44 | 34% | 19 of 48 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:02 |
| Renan Barão | 0 | 8 of 31 | 25% | 12 of 35 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:41 | |
| 2 | Jeremy Stephens | 0 | 11 of 40 | 27% | 12 of 42 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:32 |
| Renan Barão | 0 | 27 of 53 | 50% | 35 of 61 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:49 | |
| 3 | Jeremy Stephens | 0 | 17 of 53 | 32% | 20 of 56 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:54 |
| Renan Barão | 0 | 20 of 56 | 35% | 26 of 62 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:53 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremy Stephens | 43 of 137 | 31% | 28 of 110 | 7 of 16 | 8 of 11 | 38 of 129 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Renan Barão | 55 of 140 | 39% | 38 of 113 | 7 of 11 | 10 of 16 | 50 of 134 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremy Stephens | 15 of 44 | 34% | 8 of 31 | 3 of 7 | 4 of 6 | 11 of 38 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Renan Barão | 8 of 31 | 25% | 2 of 19 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 9 | 7 of 30 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Jeremy Stephens | 11 of 40 | 27% | 8 of 35 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 3 | 10 of 38 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Renan Barão | 27 of 53 | 50% | 20 of 44 | 3 of 5 | 4 of 4 | 25 of 50 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Jeremy Stephens | 17 of 53 | 32% | 12 of 44 | 3 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 17 of 53 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Renan Barão | 20 of 56 | 35% | 16 of 50 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 3 | 18 of 54 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Stephens attacks with leg kicks from the onset, pushing forward on the former bantamweight ace. Barao connects with a cracking right hand, catches a leg kick and then releases to tag Stephens with the right again. Barao brings the fight to the fence, pinning Stephens against the wall with an underhook. Stephens complains of a groin strike as Barao throws knees inside, but the 145ers separate shortly afterward. Stephens is headhunting now, marching after Barao and throwing big right hands over the top. Now it’s Stephens’ turn to dig an underhook and put Barao’s back to the cage. Barao lands an elbow, now a knee to the body while Stephens struggles to hold him in place. Stephens releases when Barao nearly hits a foot sweep; the “Lil Heathen” swings more huge punches but whiffs as Barao slides his head off center. Barao tries a takedown in the final 20 seconds but can’t wrestle Stephens to the ground before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Barao
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Barao
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Barao
Round 2
Stephens comes out headhunting again, blasting toward Barao with ill-intentioned right hands which pull up just short. Barao dives for the American’s legs but comes up empty. Stephens connects with an uppercut, walks forward and stings Barao with another. Barao backs up to the fence, gets clipped with yet another uppercut and tries a clinch knee, but Stephens gets his head out of danger. Stephens is on the march now, walking down Barao to score with one more uppercut before the Nova Uniao product slows the assault with a clinch. Stephens reverses the position, putting Barao’s back against the cage, then drops for a single-leg at the halfway point of the round. Barao gets some space and wheels around with a spinning kick which bounces off Stephens’ raised right glove. Inside the last 90 seconds of the round, Stephens is still coming forward, eating a left hook to stun Barao with a straight right. Stephens misses with an uppercut but finds the mark with a whipping left behind it. A right hook partially lands for Stephens, sending Barao in for a shot. Barao hits a takedown in the closing seconds but can’t keep Stephens on the ground until the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Stephens
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Stephens
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Stephens
Round 3
Stephens slips a jab from Barao and digs into the Brazilian’s midsection with a harsh left hand. Barao wants the fight on the fence, but as soon as he gets it there, Stephens spins him around to take the outside position in the clinch. Barao, now sporting a cut on the left side of his forehead, slips out and circles back to the center. Barao sticks a jab but misses with the uppercut behind it; Stephens tags him back with an uppercut and gives Barao a wry smile. Both men are swinging for the fences but it’s Stephens landing the harder shots with greater frequency down the stretch. Barao dives for a takedown and manages to drag Stephens to the base of the fence just inside the two-minute mark. Stephens posts and stands, blocking Barao from taking his back on the way. Now it’s Stephens on the outside in the clinch, holding Barao on the cage with a left underhook. “Lil Heathen” briefly considers a single-leg but releases after referee Herb Dean threatens to break up the fighters for inactivity. Barao dives in on an ugly shot and gets popped with an uppercut. A straight right from Stephens cuts off a left hand from Barao, leaving the Brazilian swinging at air. Barao connects with a left hand as Stephens pushes forward in the closing seconds, but it’s Stephens who gets the last word in a wild final exchange.
Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Stephens (29-28 Stephens)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Stephens (29-28 Stephens)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Stephens (29-28 Stephens)
The Official Result
Jeremy Stephens def. Renan Barao via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) R3 5:00
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T.J. Dillashaw | 0 | 117 of 212 | 55% | 170 of 273 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 5:37 |
| Renan Barão | 0 | 62 of 181 | 34% | 65 of 185 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:08 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | T.J. Dillashaw | 0 | 30 of 60 | 50% | 50 of 82 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:21 |
| Renan Barão | 0 | 30 of 72 | 41% | 31 of 73 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:04 | |
| 2 | T.J. Dillashaw | 0 | 30 of 52 | 57% | 44 of 71 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 2:11 |
| Renan Barão | 0 | 12 of 44 | 27% | 14 of 47 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:04 | |
| 3 | T.J. Dillashaw | 0 | 33 of 65 | 50% | 52 of 85 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 2:05 |
| Renan Barão | 0 | 16 of 48 | 33% | 16 of 48 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 4 | T.J. Dillashaw | 0 | 24 of 35 | 68% | 24 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Renan Barão | 0 | 4 of 17 | 23% | 4 of 17 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T.J. Dillashaw | 117 of 212 | 55% | 84 of 172 | 19 of 22 | 14 of 18 | 93 of 179 | 23 of 32 | 1 of 1 |
| Renan Barão | 62 of 181 | 34% | 31 of 129 | 19 of 37 | 12 of 15 | 50 of 155 | 12 of 26 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | T.J. Dillashaw | 30 of 60 | 50% | 18 of 47 | 7 of 8 | 5 of 5 | 24 of 52 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 |
| Renan Barão | 30 of 72 | 41% | 16 of 49 | 9 of 18 | 5 of 5 | 25 of 61 | 5 of 11 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | T.J. Dillashaw | 30 of 52 | 57% | 21 of 42 | 6 of 7 | 3 of 3 | 21 of 42 | 9 of 10 | 0 of 0 |
| Renan Barão | 12 of 44 | 27% | 4 of 29 | 3 of 9 | 5 of 6 | 11 of 39 | 1 of 5 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | T.J. Dillashaw | 33 of 65 | 50% | 23 of 50 | 5 of 6 | 5 of 9 | 24 of 50 | 8 of 14 | 1 of 1 |
| Renan Barão | 16 of 48 | 33% | 8 of 35 | 7 of 10 | 1 of 3 | 10 of 38 | 6 of 10 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | T.J. Dillashaw | 24 of 35 | 68% | 22 of 33 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 24 of 35 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Renan Barão | 4 of 17 | 23% | 3 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
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