One of the biggest fights every MMA fan has been yearning for is not going to happen – at least for now. The original plan to pit Dominick Cruz against Renan Barao hit a snag when Cruz was bugged by a new injury. However, the main event of UFC 169 will still push through, thanks to Urijah Faber who doesn’t mind fighting on short notice, especially if its another crack at the elusive bantamweight UFC title. UFC 169 is scheduled to take place in Prudential Center at Newark, New Jersey on February 1.
UFC 169 Odds and Betting Lines: Renan Barao vs. Urijah Faber 2
Renan Barao (UFC 169 Odds TBA)
Urijah Faber (UFC 169 Odds TBA)
Betting on Renan Barao on UFC 169
Barao was supposed to face former champion Dominick Cruz for this title fight but a groin injury forced Cruz to the sideline once again. To fill the void, UFC President Dana White announced that Barao would instead defend his bantamweight title against Urijah Faber. This is not the first time the two fighters have fought one another. Barao got the best of Faber in UFC 149 with a unanimous decision that got him the Interim UFC Bantamweight belt.[sc:UFC240banner ]
Since then, the Brazilian has defended his title twice; Barao won via submission against Michael McDonald and stopped Eddie Wineland with a swarm of punches after landing a beautifully executed spinning back kick in the second round of their UFC 165 undercard match. The win over Wineland improved Barao’s remarkable winning streak to 21 fights.
As shown by his defense to withstand his title, Barao is a talented fighter both on the ground and on his feet. Throughout his career, he has 7 knockout wins and 14 wins via submission. Barao carries an impressive MMA record of 31-1-1. Bet on Renan Barao at Top Bet sportsbook once odds are released.
Betting on Urijah Faber on UFC 169
Renan Barao doesn’t have a monopoly of good news after Dominick Cruz’s latest debacle with another injury – Barao was named the undisputed Bantamweight champion after the UFC stripped Cruz off his title – as Urijah Faber also caught a break when he was tasked to replace Cruz .
The late Christmas present provided Faber with an opportunity to hit two birds with one stone. First, he got his chance to avenge his loss to Barao back in 2012, and second, he could win his first UFC title since making his debut with Dana White’s MMA outfit in 2011.
The former WEC featherweight champion proved his worth in 2013, winning all four of his fights – most recently, against Michael McDonald via a second round submission. Four fights in a year is a lot by UFC standards but Faber thinks this will work to his advantage.
In an interview with MMAjunkie, Faber tells: “So I feel rested, I feel hungry, and I feel like my skill set is all there. I just have to go out and perform.”
Faber is an extremely experienced fighter. He has fought in 17 title bouts, far more than most fighters have been in in their careers. But he is 0-5 in title fights since 2008. The California Kid boasts a 30-6 MMA record. Worth noting is that Faber hasn’t lost a non-title fight. Bet on Urijah Faber at Top Bet sportsbook once odds are released.
On the UFC 169 Undercard
| Class | Fighters |
|---|---|
| Featherweight | Jose Aldo (23-1) vs. Ricardo Lamas (13-2) |
| Heavyweight | Frank Mir (16-8 vs. Alistair Overeem (36-13) |
| Flyweight | John Lineker (23-6) vs. Ali Bagautinov (12-2) |
| Lightweight | Jamie Varner (21-8) vs. Abel Trujillo (11-5) |
| Lightweight | John Makdessi (12-2) vs. Alan Patrick (11-0) |
| Flyweight | Chris Cariaso (15-5) vs. Kyoji Horiguchi (12-1) |
| Middleweight | Nick Catone (9-4) vs. Tom Watson (16-6) |
| Lightweight | Al Iaquinta (7-2) vs. Kevin Lee (6-0) |
| Middleweight | Andy Enz (7-0) vs. Clint Hester (9-3) |
| Welterweight | Neil Magny (8-3) vs. Gasan Umalatov (14-2) |
| Lightweight | Rashid Magomedov (15-1) vs. Tony Martin (8-0) |
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