Brian Kelleher and former UFC Bantamweight Champion Renan Barao are set to do battle next month at UFC On Fox 28.
The rising star says that he has noticed some changes to Barao since the USADA drug testing program came over to the UFC.
“I would never throw accusations out there. I don’t know for sure, but you can see changes in his body for sure from the older days without USADA and in his performances too,” Kelleher said on The MMA Hour. “But who’s to say? I really don’t know what he was doing or what he was taking, but a lot of guys do say that those guys were taking some stuff.”
Barao has been tested a total of eight times by USADA, but has never failed a drug test.
Kelleher also feels that Barao has changed his style as a fighter as of late, but still refuses to overlook the former bantamweight champion.
“I never want to overlook him, but his last fight against Aljo, he just looked off in that fight. It just looked like he was hesitant and not the same Barao, you know?” Kelleher said. “I’m going in thinking that it’s the same Barao of old. He’s at American Top Team, maybe he’s making some changes. You never know what to expect. I believe in myself and this is my chance to fight the best and to prove my worth.”
UFC On Fox 28 takes place on Saturday, February 24 from the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida with Josh Emmett and Jeremy Stephens headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which airs live on Fox.
