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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
The UFC's debut event in Winnipeg now has its main event, as ESPN.com's Brett Okamoto reports confirmation from UFC President Dana White that the June 15 card will be headlined by an Interim Bantamweight Championship bout between Renan Barao and Eddie Wineland.
Barao captured the Interim Title last summer, defeating Urijah Faber by decision in a close fight. He then extended his unheard of unbeaten streak to 31 in February, defeating Michael McDonald with a fourth round submission in London.
The UFC was hoping Champ Dominick Cruz would be able to return by this summer to combine the two titles, but with his recovery timetable from consecutive knee surgeries still in question, Barao will defend the Interim belt once more.
Eddie Wineland gets the shot as the best bantamweight challenger not named Urijah Faber, and despite a loss to Faber just four fights ago, he rides a little momentum into the fight with Barao. Wineland halted a two-fight losing streak last June, knocking out Scott Jorgensen. He followed that up with a good performance against Brad Pickett at UFC 155 in December, and now he'll get a crack at the Interim Championship.
UFC 161 marks the UFC's first ever event in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and in addition to Barao-Wineland, the card currently features Dan Henderson vs. Rashad Evans, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Tyron Woodley vs. Jake Shields, and Soa Palelei vs. Stipe Miocic.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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