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Barao expected to pull out of UFC 161 main event

ESPN staff
May 20, 2013
Renan Barao submitted Michael McDonald last time out © Getty Images
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UFC 161 looks set to lose its main event after Tatame reported that Renan Barao had suffered a foot injury ahead of his interim bantamweight title defence against Eddie Wineland.

The news is yet to be confirmed by the UFC, but Tatame claims Barao does not have time to sufficiently recover for the June 15 title fight, set for Winnepeg, Canada.

Should Barao be forced to withdraw, it would not represent the biggest of blows on what is already a strong card, which boasts two important light-heavyweight bouts involving Mauricio Shogun Rua v Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Rashad Evans v Dan Henderson.

One of those bouts could easily act as the main event, on a night that currently has the welterweight battle of Jake Shields and Tyron Woodley on the prelims section of the fight card.

Barao's anticipated absence would, however, cause further loss of momentum to a division that is already lacking its true champion, Dominick Cruz, who continues to recover from a serious knee problem.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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