Dana White will announce Urijah Faber’s UFC 148 opponent on Friday’s The Ultimate Fighter: Live
This week’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter Live will have a little something extra. It has been announced that Dana White will be on hand to clarify TUF Coach Urijah Faber‘s new opponent for the interim Bantamweight championship at UFC 148. This is interesting news considering the UFC President recently faced an illness that forced him to miss UFC on Fuel TV 3. Of course Faber’s rival coach, UFC Bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, unfortunately tore his ACL while training for their much-ballyhooed title clash at UFC 148 this July 7th. While the two quarterfinal bouts scheduled for the evening should be exciting in their own right, this announcement makes the show an absolute must-watch for MMA fans.
There are a handful of worthy contenders in the Bantamweight division right now, a division that Dominick Cruz has absolutely tore apart recently. It looks like the only thing that could have defeated Cruz right now was a debilitating injury. Now, it would appear that Renan Barao, a monster with a ridiculous MMA record of 28-1 (1) is the frontrunner to face Faber for the interim belt. A submission master, Barao, at age 25, is one of the best young prospects in the UFC right now. Speaking of prospects, the shot could also go to the fast-rising Michael “Mayday” McDonald, hot off the heels of a decisive knockout victory over Miguel Torres at UFC 145. McDonald himself is only 21 an sits at a lofty 15-1. There are a few other fighters who could face Faber, but it is most likely down to these two rising contenders.
This Friday should provide an entertaining time for MMA fans worldwide, with this announcement scheduled on the TUF quarterfinals and UFC Primetime on FX as well. The summer of 2012 is shaping up to be a great time for Mixed Martial Arts. Who will Urijah Faber face for the UFC Interim Bantamweight championship? Is it Barao or McDonald that is more deserving, and can either young fighter beat the supremely experienced Faber?
Further Reading: Urijah faber responds to Domick Cruz’s injury, wants Renan Barao as a replacement
