Renan Barão (born 31 January 1987), is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and a former UFC Bantamweight Champion. According to Fight Matrix, Barão holds the third longest unbeaten streak in MMA history, which lasted from 2005 to 2014. During his championship reign, he was ranked as a top three pound-for-pound fighter and regarded as one of the best mixed martial artists in the world.
Background
Barão was born into a poor family of 13 in Natal, Brazil. His parents divorced when he was young, and he was raised mostly by his mother, aunt and grandmother. Following the divorce, Barão would meet his father – who was an accomplished boxer – next time when he was a teen. Inspired by his father, Barão would instantly start training in combat sports. His nickname Barão (baron), which predates his athletic career, was given to him by his grandmother after a character in the 1986 Brazilian soap opera Sinhá Moça.