The UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz has been forced to withdraw from his UFC 169 unification bout against Renan Barao due to a pulled groin and will vacate his title. Urijah Faber will step in for Cruz and fight Barao for the second time.
UFC President Dana White made the announcement on Monday’s episode of ESPN Sportscenter.
Dominick Cruz has pulled out of UFC 169 with groin injury, will vacate title
Cruz (19-1) has been out of action for the past two years due to numerous knee injuries. “The Dominator” has not lost a fight since 2007 when he was finished by Urijah Faber in a WEC bout. Cruz has fought twice inside the UFC Octagon and defeated both Faber (UFC 132) and most recently Demetrious Johnson (UFC Live).
Faber (30-6) fought four times in 2013 and won all four in decisive fashion. Most recently, Faber sealed his fate as number one contender with a first round submission win against Michael McDonald. “The California Kid’s” last loss was at UFC 149 against Barao.
Barao (31-1) lost his first professional bout in 2005 and has since amassed an outstanding 31-fight winning streak. At UFC 149 in 2012 he won the Interim title against Faber and followed up by defending it on two occasions, Michael McDonald and Eddie Wineland.
UFC 169 goes down on February 1, 2014 at the Prudential Center at Newark, N.J. Also on the card, the featherweight title is up for grabs, as Jose Aldo takes on Ricardo Lamas.
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