Countdown To UFC 169: Barao vs. Faber
UFC 169 is set to pop off live this Saturday, February 1, 2014, from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. To build up the top main card bouts for the massive event, the Ultimate Fighting Championship has released its traditional series of “Countdown” videos.
The blockbuster UFC 169 card features a crucial bantamweight title showdown between newly minted official champion Renan Barao and former WEC champ Urijah Faber. This main event tilt was originally scheduled to be the long-awaited title unification bout between Barao and Dominick Cruz, but Faber stepped in to remtach “Baron” after the injury bug bit Cruz once again. Barao has an unheard-of 32 fight unbeaten streak intact, while “The California Kid” mowed through four straight foes in 2013. The lightning-quick striking power of both fighters should make this an incredible fight for fans.
The co-main event features a top-shelf title fight in its own regard when UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo faces streaking title contender Ricardo Lamas. It’s “Junior’s” first fight back since his win over “Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung at UFC 163 last August, a bout where Aldo broke his foot in a winning effort. Lamas was originally slated to face Jung at UFC 162, but saw the fight disappear when Jung moved in to face Aldo after Anthony Pettis withdrew from UFc 163 with a knee injury. Lamas looks ready for the fight of his life, which is just what this bout is going to be for him.
Rounding out the series, heavyweights Alistair Overeem and Frank Mir will face off in what has been billed as a “loser leaves town” match. Once the cream of the 265-pound crop, Overeem and Mir hav fallen on hard times. “The Reem” has dropped two straight fights that he was winning, getting knocked out by both Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva and Travis Browne in highlight reel fashion. Not to be outdone, Mir has dropped three straight to top competition in Junior dos Santos, Daniel Cormier, and Josh Barnett. The potential of being released should make this a heated matchup.
