UFC
Cole Escovedo to make UFC debut against Renan Barao at UFC 130
Apr 22, 2011 - 1:41:54 PM Cole Escovedo to make UFC debut against Renan Barao at UFC 130

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Former WEC Featherweight Champion Cole Escovedo will make his UFC debut at UFC 130.

According to a report from MMAJunkie.com, Escovedo will now meet Renan Barao on the May 28 card after Barao's initial opponent Demetrious Johnson was moved up the card to meet Miguel Torres.

Escovedo was the first Featherweight Champion in WEC history, and went 6-2 in eight fights in the organization prior to it being purchased by Zuffa in 2006. However, he has never appeared in a Zuffa owned organization.

He lost the title to Urijah Faber, and dropped consecutive fights after that to Jens Pulver and Antonio Banuelos. Since then, however, he's won six of eight fights. Most recently, he bounced back from two consecutive losses to Michael McDonald and Michihiro Omigawa with a submission win in a regional promotion in Utah.

Barao only loss came in his very first fight, and has since won 25 of 26 fights with one no contest. This is also his UFC debut, though he's won two fights under the Zuffa banner with consecutive submission wins in the WEC in 2010.

UFC 130 takes place from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 28, headlined by the UFC Lightweight Championship rematch between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard.

Link to Original Source Article

Penick's Analysis: This is a good late replacement fight for this card. Escovedo hasn't gotten much exposure on a major level in the U.S., and this is a big opportunity for him. Barao is a legitimately dangerous and talented opponent, however, and this will be a very tough fight for him. Still, on a month's notice this is a good fight to make.