An interim bantamweight title fight between Renan Barao and Eddie Wineland will headline UFC 161 in Winnipeg on June 15, the UFC confirmed Wednesday.
Barao (30-1, 1 NC) is coming off a fourth-round submission win over Michael McDonald last month at UFC on FUEL TV 7 in London. The Brazilian won the interim belt last July at UFC 149 in Calgary after beating Urijah Faber. Barao has not lost since his mixed martial arts debut in 2005.
Wineland (20–8–1) is on a two-fight win streak, coming off a decision win over Brad Pickett in December and a knockout of Scott Jorgensen last June. Wineland was the first ever WEC bantamweight champ.
UFC 161 takes place at the MTS Centre, home of the National Hockey League’s Winnipeg Jets.
@eddiewineland pleasure bro!!!
— Dana White (@danawhite) March 6, 2013
There had been speculation that a middleweight championship bout between Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman could serve as the headliner for Manitoba’s first UFC event, however that bout will reportedly headline UFC 162 in Las Vegas.
A flyweight title bout between Demetrious Johnson and John Moraga was also a possibility. Johnson is scheduled to have shoulder surgery Thursday to repair a torn labrum, but has said he is looking to return to the cage by mid-June.
With the Barao-Wineland matchup now official this means true bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz will remain on the sidelines a while longer and is disappointed with how things have worked out.
“The UFC is a machine, and machines never stop. It’s out of my hands at this point,” Cruz told MMAFighting.com Wednesday. “And yes, needless to say, this sucks for me.”
Cruz, who holds a pro MMA record of 19-1 hasn’t fought since October 2011 when he defended his title against then-bantamweight Demetrious Johnson.
On a positive note, the 27-year-old added his rehab from a second reconstructive knee surgery is going as well as can be expected. “I’m listening to my doctors. … Everything associated with recovery/rehab is on track 100 percent.”
The UFC also announced Wednesday that former Strikeforce champion Jake Shields will face fellow welterweight Tyron Woodley at the event, while Pat Barry takes on Shawn Jordan in a heavyweight tilt.
The projected UFC 161 fight card currently looks like this:
— Renan Barao vs. Eddie Wineland (for UFC interim bantamweight title)
— Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson
— Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Mauricio Rua
— Pat Barry vs. Shawn Jordan
— Stipe Miocic vs. Soa Palelei
— Jake Shields vs. Tyron Woodley