With news that Dominick Cruz will be out for most of 2013, the interim bantamweight strap will be put on the line in the meantime, starting with a title fight between current interim champion Renan Barão and top contender Michael McDonald, expected for the first quarter of 2013. Barão, who defeated Urijah Faber in July at UFC 149 for the interim title, is currently riding a 30-fight unbeaten streak, the likes of which are rarely seen in MMA. During the stretch he's defeated Scotty Jorgensen, Brad Pickett, and Chris Cariaso, all considered top-10 bantamweights. Barão originally declared that he wouldn't defend his interim title and instead wait for Cruz to return for a unification bout, but with Cruz out for going on two years, the UFC wants to have an active champion in the division. Michael McDonald, at just 21-years old, has amassed a 15-1 record. His lone loss came against Cole Escovedo in 2009--a loss he avenged by knockout in 2010. McDonald knocked out former WEC Bantamweight Champion Miguel Torres in April at UFC 145 but hasn't been healthy since.
