Renan Barão, Daniel Cormier heavy favorites in UFC 173 mismatches

It's tricky business for the UFC to be selling us a pay card topped by two apparent mismatches. The thing is, though, what really pushes fans to fork over the

Jeff Wagenheim | May 23, 2014

Renan Barão, Daniel Cormier heavy favorites in UFC 173 mismatches /

Renan BarÃ£o looks to keep his 33-match unbeaten streak intact against T.J. Dillashaw :: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC

It's tricky business for the UFC to be selling us a pay card topped by two apparent mismatches. The thing is, though, what really pushes fans to fork over the dough to watch is star power. Barão doesn't have it, whether because of the language barrier or a lack of stout challenges. Maybe that'll change someday, perhaps when Dominick Cruz returns to reclaim the belt he believes is his. But for now, for UFC 173, the stars will be shining most brightly in the co-main event.

Published May 23, 2014

JEFF WAGENHEIM

Paradoxically, Jeff Wagenheim considers himself a pacifist (except when driving in traffic) but nonetheless writes about mixed martial arts, the world's most combative sport (other than driving in traffic). As a veteran of three decades in magazines and newspapers, he's a bit grayer than most who attend UFC fights, even along press row. (A fan watching an MMA media panel show recently referred to him as "that crazy hippie uncle," to which Jeff responds, "Groovy, man!") Wagenheim also has tackled pro football for SI.com, and writes about sports and the arts for The Boston Globe. When he's not on the road chasing the UFC, Jeff spends Sunday afternoons spinning Sleepy LaBeef and Boozoo Chavis records for a popular (but not pop) radio show in western Massachusetts.