NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 19: A detailed shot of the new UFC Legacy Championship belt during the UFC … [+]
Former UFC champion Renan Barao has signed with the Global Fight League (GFL). Barao’s name is one of dozens of household names associated with the new team-based MMA league that will debut in 2025.
Barao, 37, is also another of the fighters, former champions and veterans whose advanced age may have fans questioning whether they can still compete at a high level.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 14: Renan Barao of Brazil poses for a portrait during a UFC photo shoot … [+]
“I was just training in jiu-jitsu when I got a call from my manager,” Barao said, per Sherdog. “I took it straight away, I liked the system and it will be a pleasure to represent Brazil in MMA. The proposal was good – in fact it could be better – but still, it motivated me to get back into an MMA training routine. I had high expectations to fight twice a year in the lightweight category and present myself in the best possible way.”
At one point, Renan Barao was widely considered the best fighter in the UFC. In 2014, Barao was the reigning UFC Men’s Bantamweight Champion. He won the title in 2012 when he scored a unanimous decision victory over Urijah Faber at UFC 149.
Barao defended his title three times, stopping Michael McDonald, Eddie Wineland and Faber in a rematch before losing the title to TJ Dillashaw in May 2014.
NEWARK, NJ – FEBRUARY 01: (RL) Renan Barao pins Urijah Faber for their Bantamweight Championship … [+]
Barao’s struggles at 135 pounds make it easy to see why he would compete at featherweight, but it should be noted that the Brazilian’s recent bouts have not been pretty. Barao’s UFC career ended on a five-fight losing streak, and the slide also included two weight cuts.
The last time Barao competed in MMA was in October 2023, where he lost a split decision to Walter Zamora. Perhaps the time off and the opportunity to compete at 145 pounds will rejuvenate Barao.
Here is a look at the full roster for the GFL in all weight classes:
Heavy weight
- Alan Belcher
- Alexander Maslov
- Alexey Oleinik
- Andrei Arlovski
- Fabrício Werdum
- Frank Mir
- Junior dos Santos
- Oli Thompson
- Greg Hardy
- Guto Inocente
- Philip Lins
- Robelis Despaigne
- Rogers Souza
- Stuart Austin
- Tanner Boser
Light heavyweight
- Alexander Gustafsson
- Clayton Silva
- Emiliano Sordi
- Ilir Latifi
- Rafael Carvalho
- Thiago Santos
- Da Woon Jung
Middle weight
- Gegard Mousasi
- Chauncey Foxworth
- Glaico France
- Hector Lombard
- Jared Revel
- Joseph Wittner
- Kyle Daukaus
- Mariusz Ksiazkiewicz
- Luke Rockhold
- Marcus Perez
- Phil Hawes
- Wanderlei Silva
Light weight
- Abubakar Nurmagomedov
- Austin Tweedy
- Adilet Nurmatov
- Benson Henderson
- Danny Mitchell
- Dominick Meriweather
- Francisco Trinaldo
- Joao Zeferino
- Joseph Wittner
- Jordan Mein
- Julio Spadaccini
- Michael Irizarry
- Rousimar Palhares
- Saves Machado
- Tyron Woodley
Easy
- Amirkhon Alikhuzhaev
- Aaron McKenzie
- Anthony Pettis
- Alex Oliveira
- Ayton De Paepe
- Charles Rose
- 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
Feather weight
- Alexsandro Lopes Cangaty
- Bubba Jenkins
- Andrew Harrison
- Claudeci Brito
- Deberson Batista
- Lance Palmer
- Marcel Adur
- Marcelo Dias
- Marlon Moraes
- Mohammad Abzakh
- Patrizio de Souza Janurario
- Renan Oliveira
- Renan Barão
Small weight
- Cameron Else
- Denis Palancica
- Diego Teixeira
- Jimmy 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
Straw weight for women
- Bi Nguyen
- Viviane Pereira
- Silvania Monteiro
- Hannah Goldy
- Jessica Penne
- Kayla Hraço
