Report: Renan Barao will make his featherweight debut on May 29th

Renan Barao

According to a report from Brazilian news outlet Combate, former UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao (33-3 MMA) will return to the octagon on May 29 to make his featherweight debut against Jeremy Stephens (24-12 MMA).

After putting together an amazing win streak that stretched from 2005-2014, Renan Barao has gone just 1-2 in his past three octagon appearances. Both of those recent losses came via TKO to former champ T.J. Dillashaw. Sandwiched in between the Dillashaw losses was a submission victory over Canadian Mitch Gagnon. Barao, who has always struggled to make the bantamweight limit of 135-pounds, will now look to find new life as a featherweight (145-pounds).

Jeremy Stephens also finds himself in a bit of a slump. The hard-hitting featherweight has suffered losses in three of his past four bouts. “Lil Heathen’s” latest setback came against perennial contender Max Holloway at UFC 194. Prior to that, Stephens had earned a third-round knockout victory over Dennis Bermudez at UFC 189 in Las Vegas.

Combate added that the Stephens vs. Barao fight will serve as the co-main event for the May 29 UFC Fight Night event. A location and venue for the fight card has yet to be announced.

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