Personally, I think Faber is in trouble on July 7. He won't be able to handle Renen's explosiveness. Discuss
I don't know much about Barao, but if he's as good as his record seems to say he is, I agree Faber could be in trouble. I think Faber has lost a step and Barao sounds like he's at the top of his game. How do you think Faber vs. Cruz would have turned out? Cruz wouldn't even look at Faber when he shook his hand tonight.
Faber is pretty explosive as well........close fight. I think Faber´s strinking is better.....and he has faster hands....
This is a FOTY caliber fight. I'd give Faber the edge in cardio, wrestling, and possibly boxing. Overall striking, I have to give to Barao. Faber is an excellent all around grappler and a good wrestler, and Barao is a Nova Uniao blackbelt, so on the mat, it's hard to say who will have the edge. Both guys have great killer instinct. Faber's toughness is virtually unmatched, and you know he will be fighting til the bitter end even if he is taking a beating. It's always hard to count a guy like that out. Barao is just on a roll, though. It's difficult to stop a guy with so much momentum behind him. I've seen people call him a can crusher and whatever, but he is clearly immensely talented, and is more than capable to beat any 135er in the world. I ****ing love this fight, though. I can't see how it can disappoint. In the end, I think that Nova Uniao is going to have itself another champion, albeit an interim one (for now).
This is one hell of a fight but ill admitt I worry alittle bit as a big fan of Faber. Like Rob pointed out well Barao is very well rounded. Id give Urijah the advantage with the hands and the wrestling but Barao has not appeared very easy to take down but ill need to rewatch some film on him. As for Jiujitsu though id love to see it Barao has a Blackbelt and showcased those skills vs Pickett but people tend to forget how good Urijah's submission game is. Its not just him choking out Bowles, Mizugaki, Pulver, Cruz etc hes choked out Blackbelts like Jeff Curran and Raphael Assuncao. Its also worth mentioning just how good Urijah looked last time out vs Brian Bowles not just his boxing and his jiujitsu but he really looks comfertable now at 135 pounds. This is going to be a heck of matchup.
atsch Mismatch ? Barao didnt exactly light up Jorgenson in his last bout and Jorgenson cant touch Faber. Please watch Faber's last fight vs Brian Bowles.
I think Faber has more tools in the tool kit than Renan Barao , his wrestling will play a massive factor in this fight IMO Faber himself is a very explosive athlete , i hear what saying about Barao , the difference is Faber has that " in , out " kind of explosion , Barao normally causes maximum effect or ends the fight when he explodes Questions I've asked myself about these two ; can Faber stand with Barao ?? , can Barao stop the Faber TD ?? , and can Barao fight at Fabers pace ?? Gonna be a good one as long as it lasts ............. :good
Faber works his hands in well, but Barao has explosive striking and rounded BJJ (look how expertly he iced Brad Pickett) but he didn't look superb against, admittedly good, Jorgenson. I'll go for Faber UD, but Barao blasting him and choking him out would not surprise me either. Cruz is going to have a beast waiting for him when he comes back, assuming these two don't ruin each other. This is going to be an excellent scrap. What a card!
I think people are unfairly using the Jorgensen fight as a negative - Scott has only been subbed once, and has never been tko/kod, the guy is a tough ****er, and Barao dominated him quite comfortably. Im surprised so many people are giving Faber such a healthy chance. I think Barao will ko him in the later rounds, and give Cruz something to look forward to when he comes back.
Props to Faber, begged for this tough ass fight that I don't think he will win. No ducking like Rashad, just wants to fight top notch opponents. Faber is the ****ing man!
Against Jorgensen, he slowed a bit in the third, so the question is, down the stretch, will he be able to keep up with Faber? Faber sets a very high pace, and has the cardio to keep it going all five rounds.
