Renan Barao (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

Following his well documented withdrawal from UFC 177 and a rematch with TJ Dillashaw, due to a disastrous weight cut, Renan Barao has reportedly changed up his diet in advance of his next fight.

The former bantamweight champ is scheduled to fight Mitch Gagnon on December 20th, and recently Barao relayed the following to MMA Fighting.com:

“It’s never easy to make weight, but I’m fine, thank God,” Barao said. “I’m controlling my weight earlier this time [around], and I’m doing really well. Everything will be fine. I changed a lot of things. I’m controlling my food now, eating more balanced meals. I stopped eating things like pizza and pasta.”

Barao was stopped by Dillashaw in May and saw his 33 fight, undefeated streak come to an end.

After the Brazilian was forced to drop out of UFC 177, Dillashaw defended the 135 title by knocking out Joe Soto.

Barao-Gagnon will be part of UFC FN 58, which will take place in Sao Paulo, Brazil.