Previous UFC Titleholder Joins New Fight Organization, Pursues Two Bouts in 2025
Ex-UFC champion Renan Barao has joined forces with the Global Fight League (GFL). Barao is among numerous well-known names tied to the new team-oriented MMA league, set for its debut in 2025.
At 37, Barao is yet another experienced fighter and former champion whose advanced age might leave some fans questioning if he can still perform at a high level.
"I was just training jiu-jitsu when my manager called," Barao said, as per Sherdog. "I was immediately intrigued by the system, and I'm thrilled to represent Brazil in MMA. The offer was decent — though it could've been better — but it sparked my interest to resume MMA training routines. I had high hopes to compete twice a year in the featherweight division and put my best foot forward."
At one point, Renan Barao was hailed as one of the UFC's top fighters. In 2014, Barao held the UFC men's bantamweight title, which he claimed after a unanimous decision victory over Urijah Faber at UFC 149.
Barao defended his title three times, defeating Michael McDonald, Eddie Wineland, and Faber in a rematch before losing the title to TJ Dillashaw in May 2014.
Barao's struggles with weight at 135 pounds make his transition to featherweight understandable, but it's worth noting that his final stint in the UFC wasn't particularly successful. Barao ended his UFC career with a five-fight losing streak, which included two weight-cut issues.
Barao's most recent MMA bout was in October 2023, where he lost a split decision to Walter Zamora. With ample rest and the opportunity to compete at 145 pounds, maybe Barao can rediscover his form.
Below is the complete roster for the GFL across all weight classes:
Heavyweight
- Alan Belcher
- Aleksandr Maslov
- Aleksei Oleinik
- Andrei Arlovski
- Fabrício Werdum
- Frank Mir
- Junior dos Santos
- Oli Thompson
- Greg Hardy
- Guto Inocente
- Philipe Lins
- Robelis Despaigne
- Roggers Souza
- Stuart Austin
- Tanner Boser
Light Heavyweight
- Alexander Gustafsson
- Cleiton Silva
- Emiliano Sordi
- Ilir Latifi
- Rafael Carvalho
- Thiago Santos
- Da Woon Jung
Middleweight
- Gegard Mousasi
- Chauncey Foxworth
- Glaico Franca
- Héctor Lombard
- Jared Revel
- Jozef Wittner
- Kyle Daukaus
- Mariusz Ksiazkiewicz
- Luke Rockhold
- Markus Perez
- Phil Hawes
- Wanderlei Silva
Welterweight
- Abubakar Nurmagomedov
- Austin Tweedy
- Adilet Nurmatov
- Benson Henderson
- Danny Mitchell
- Dominick Meriweather
- Francisco Trinaldo
- Joao Zeferino
- Jozef Wittner
- Jordan Mein
- Julio Spadaccini
- Michael Irizarry
- Rousimar Palhares
- Ruan Machado
- Tyron Woodley
Lightweight
- Amirkhon Alikhuzhaev
- Aaron McKenzie
- Anthony Pettis
- Alex Oliveira
- Ayton De Paepe
- Charles Rosa
- Feruz Usmonov
- Gabriel Souza Galindo
- Ayinda Nah Octave Tiphaine
- Christian Giagos
- Benson Henderson
- Ayinda Octave
- Jefferson Pontes
- Jeremy Stephens
- John Makdessi
- Kevin Lee
- Killys Mota
- Lucas Martins
- Mohamed Tarek Mohey
- Oscar Ownsworth
- Raimundo Batista
- Sidney Outlaw
- Stephen Beaumont
- Will Brooks
- William Lima
- Yan Cabral
Featherweight
- Alexsandro Lopes Cangaty
- Bubba Jenkins
- Andre Harrison
- Claudeci Brito
- Deberson Batista
- Lance Palmer
- Marcel Adur
- Marcelo Dias
- Marlon Moraes
- Mohammad Abzakh
- Patrizio de Souza Janurario
- Renan Oliveira
- Renan Barão
Bantamweight
- Cameron Else
- Denis Palancica
- Diego Teixeira
- Jimmie Rivera
- Marciano Ferreira
- Omar Arteaga
- Marcus Paulo Amaral
Women’s Bantamweight
- Alexa Conners
- Queila Braga
- Pannie Kianzad
- Tonya Evinger
Women’s Flyweight
- Chiara Penco
- Kalindra Faria
- Miao Ding
Women’s Strawweight
- Bi Nguyen
- Viviane Pereira
- Silvania Monteiro
- Hannah Goldy
- Jessica Penne
- Kayla Hracho
- Renan Barao, who once held the UFC men's bantamweight title, is now part of the Global Fight League (GFL) roster.
- UFC news circulated about Barao joining forces with the GFL, which is set to start in 2025 and features a team-oriented MMA format.
- When asked about his decision to join GFL, Barao mentioned being intrigued by the league's system and his hopes to compete twice a year in the featherweight division.
- The GFL roster includes a wide range of fighters across various weight classes, with Renan Barao joining the featherweight division, where he hopes to rediscover his form.
