Just 3 weeks before UFC 169 in New Jersey on Superbowl Saturday the UFC has to replace main event competitor Dominick Cruz. Cruz has a grade 2 tear of his hamstring and will be forced to permanently vacate his UFC bantamweight title.
Cruz was dominating the bantamweight division two years ago before he tore his ACL. Interim champion Renen Barao will now have the interim tag removed and he will defend his title against Uriah Faber.
Faber is one of the most popular fighters in the UFC and he went 4 for 4 in 2013 to earn this opportunity. Faber’s most recent fight was a victory over Michael McDonald on December 14th. He’d only have 6 weeks between fights and 3 weeks to prepare for the best the bantamweight division has to offer.
UFC 169 has just gotten a lot more interesting and should attract a much larger crowd now that Faber is in the main event.