Renan Barao vs. Aljamain Sterling

Round 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

Renan Barao vs. Jeremy Stephens

Round 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