Barao staying at 135lb says coach Pederneiras

Despite talk to the contrary, it seems former UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao will be staying at 135lb, at least for now.

The Brazilian reportedly collapsed and hit his head the day of the UFC 177 weigh-ins in August, forcing the UFC to perform a last minute main event switch to save the entire pay-per-view card from being canceled.

Having Octagon debutant Joe Soto challenge TJ Dillashaw for the belt at the head of the PPV event was embarassing for the organization, and afterwards president Dana White insisted Barao would not jump straight back into a title fight upon his return.

And despite much media speculation regarding a move up to featherweight, Nova Uniao head coach Andre Pederneiras maintains Barao is staying as a bantamweight.

“Barao cut weight 10 or 12 times in the UFC and never had any trouble. The process was always done the same way not only with him, but with every other fighter in the gym,” Pederneiras said.

“People say he should fight at featherweight. I know he’s big for 135lb, but we have the support of doctors and nutritionists, so I don’t see why changing divisions (sic). What I see is that he needs more time between fights so he doesn’t have to do training camps for five-round fights one after another. His body really needs some rest.”

FO SCORE: Long term it’s likely Barao will move up a weight class, but not until training partner and 145lb champ José Aldo goes north to 155lb, likely late next year.

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The online fundraiser to pay for the hospital bills of Christy Mack, who was severely injured in an alleged attack by fighter War Machine, reached $75k in little over a week.

CA$340,000

UFC vet Jason Day was recently awarded CA$340,000 after he was hit by a car and left unable to fight.

SONNEN ON PEDS: ‘I THOUGHT I COULD HAVE MY CAKE AND EAT IT TOO’

Former UFC middleweight title challenger Chael Sonnen has revealed he knew he was taking non-permitted performance enhancing drugs which showed in two failed June drugs tests.

The outspoken yet respected fighter and TV personality retired in the wake of a first positive test prior to his UFC 175 fight with Wanderlei Silva, which flagged drugs Sonnen said were to help aid his fertility after coming off prescribed testosterone replacement therapy.

However, he was let go by the UFC and Fox Sports after a second test indicated three banned items, including EPO, a cardio enhancer, in his system.

Sonnen told the Talk is Jericho podcast he knew the substances were against the rules, saying: “I didn’t think I’d be tested for another 44 days. I tried to game the system and here’s what happened, I didn’t want to say anything that could water down my guilt. I thought it was really important when you’re wrong, just say you’re wrong. And I was wrong.”

He later added: “I’m a grown man, I knew what I was doing. The test was supposed to be (in) 44 days. I thought I could have my cake and eat it too.”