Renan Barao out of UFC 177, Joe Soto meets T.J. Dillashaw for title

SACRAMENTO – In a stunning development, former bantamweight champion Renan Barao is out of his UFC 177 main event rematch with T.J. Dillashaw – the day before the fight.

According to multiple reports, including one at Brazilian news outlet Globo, Barao (32-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) became ill during the weight-cutting process and was taken to the hospital. His fight against Dillashaw (10-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) tomorrow is off.

Instead, UFC newcomer Joe Soto, a former Bellator MMA champ, will move up the card – and will fight Dillashaw for the title in his promotional debut. UFC officials announced that news about one hour before the UFC 177 weigh-ins in Sacramento.

Stay tuned to MMAjunkie for more on this story as it develops.

For more on UFC 177, stay stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.