Tag: Jose Aldo

Is Renan Barao WEC’s Next Superstar? Jose Aldo Thinks So

Filed under: WEC, FanHouse ExclusiveRenan Barao was just a fresh-faced 18-year-old when he made his professional MMA debut in Natal, Brazil, losing by unanimous decision. Apparently, he responds well to adversity, because he has not lost since. Dependi…

Filed under: ,

Renan Barao was just a fresh-faced 18-year-old when he made his professional MMA debut in Natal, Brazil, losing by unanimous decision. Apparently, he responds well to adversity, because he has not lost since. Depending on who you talk to, Barao either has a 21-, 23- or 25-fight unbeaten streak. No matter who you talk to, or what number you believe, it’s one of the most impressive current stretches in MMA.

The 23-year-old Barao finally brings that long run of success to a major promotion when he faces Anthony Leone during Sunday’s WEC 49 undercard in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and many think you should mark this date on your calendar as the start of something big.

WEC Beware: A Phenom on One Good Leg, Now Josh Grispi’s Healthy

Filed under: UFC, FanHouse Exclusive, NewsAt 21 years old, Josh Grispi is a grizzled veteran with big wins on his record, a horrific injury in his past and now, he hopes, a stirring comeback story.

The kid they call “The Fluke” actually began his care…

Filed under: , ,

At 21 years old, Josh Grispi is a grizzled veteran with big wins on his record, a horrific injury in his past and now, he hopes, a stirring comeback story.

The kid they call “The Fluke” actually began his career as a kid. As in, he was underage. He was 17 and determined, so he fudged the truth a little bit about the nature of the competition, got a parent’s signature and went off to chase a dream.

It was during his 18th birthday when everything started going wrong and right. He was legal now, so nothing could stop him from fighting (and that’s exactly what he was doing on his 18th birthday), but it was also the day that his right ankle suffered an injury from a misdirected kick. Over the next three years, it would get progressively worse, to the point that when he finally had a thorough exam, his doctors recoiled in horror.

“How are you even walking right now?” one doctor asked.