Barao

By FCF Staff

Renan Barao may not have the drawing power of Ronda Rousey or Georges St-Pierre in North America, but the UFC bantamweight champ continues to entrench himself as one of the sport’s best.

In the lead-up to this Saturday’s UFC 173, where Barao will take on TJ Dillashaw, Dana White has repeatedly argued that the champ is at the top of the pound-for-pound list.

While speaking to UFC.com recently about his upcoming bout, here is what Barao had to say about the praise he’s been receiving from White and others.

“I’m really happy to be recognized as one of the pound-for-pound best in the sport,” Barao said. “I have been working hard for a very long time and I’m conquering each fight and making my dreams come true. I’m happy that Dana has been recognizing me as one of the best and seeing me as one of the great fighters in the business right now.”

Barao (32-1) is currently ranked #3 in the UFC’s P4P rankings, behind the #2 Jose Aldo and the #1 positioned Jon Jones.

The 27 year-old champion is currently riding an awe inspiring 33 fight, undefeated streak. At UFC 169 in February, defeated Urijah Faber for a second time by scoring a first round, TKO win.