(This story appears in today’s edition of USA TODAY .) NEWARK, N.J. – UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao never wanted to be handed a title belt. He wanted to earn it in the cage. But now that the former interim titleholder has been awarded full champion status, the 26-year-old Brazilian doesn’t plan on letting that belt go. “I wanted so much to be the linear champion, and I had that chance to be the true champion of the division,” Barao told USA TODAY Sports through an interpreter.
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Though awarded crown, UFC champ Renan Barao plans long title reign – MMA Junkie