Renan Barao vs TJ Dillashaw — Fight recap

TJ Dillashaw defeated Renan Barao by TKO in the fifth round at 2:26, claiming the UFC bantamweight title in a stunning upset at UFC 173. Dillashaw landed 140 significant strikes on 45% accuracy compared to Barao's 64 on just 23%, while also recording two knockdowns that proved decisive in the late-fight sequence.

The champion struggled to find his rhythm offensively, landing only 42 head strikes, while Dillashaw's superior volume and precision—particularly with leg kicks, connecting on 24 of 28 attempts—systematically broke down the previously dominant Barao. Dillashaw controlled just 3:38 of the fight but made every second count, executing his game plan with surgical efficiency as Barao, the long-reigning 135-pound king, had no answer for the challenger's speed and footwork.

The result marked one of MMA's biggest upsets and signaled a changing of the guard in the bantamweight division.