LAS VEGAS -- Still doubting Renan Barao? No need to anymore.
The young Brazilian cruised by a pretty game fighter in Scott Jorgensen taking a unanimous decision, 30-27 on all three cards, on the pay-per-view portion of UFC 143 at the Mandalay Event Center.
Barao entered the fight with a brilliant 27-1 record. That includes winning the last 27 straight. The 25-year-old is now a perfect 4-0 in the UFC with wins over Brad Pickett and now Jorgensen. He wasa minus-250 favorite and brought home the victory with ease.
Jorgensen is generally regarded as a top seven fighter at 135 pounds. He went the distance in a five-round loss against UFC champion Dominick Cruz. Barao picked him apart on the feet the entire fight. Even more impressive was his takedown defense. In a division, with plenty of former college wrestlers, Barao showed he's not going to have an issue of fighting from his back.
Jorgensen, a three-time Pac-10 wrestling champion at Boise State, never came close to threatening Barao for a takedown. He tried three times in the opening round and Barao powered out of the attempt in each case. Twice, he controlled Jorgensen and turned the clinch to his advantage along the cage.
That left Jorgensen (13-5, 2-1 UFC) with almost no path to a victory. The shorter fighter with a less developed striking game, Jorgensen couldn't reach Barao with most of his shots. When he did, the power just wasn't there.
Barao's jab landed just about every time he threw over the first two rounds. He pieced together some beautiful three-punch combos.
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