On Monday, officials with the Ultimate Fighting Championship announced a bantamweight bout between Brazilian fighter Renan Barão (28-22, 1NC), the owner of a 29-bout undefeated streak, and UFC sophomore Jeff ‘Hellbound’ Hougland (10-4) as part of this July’s UFC 148 event.
UFC 148 is expected to take place on July 7, 2012 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event is also expected to host the UFC bantamweight title rematch between champ Dominick Cruz and challenger, Urijah Faber.
Barão is 3-0 in the Octagon and is 5-0 under Zuffa after winning twice with the WEC. The Brazilian earned a unanimous decision against Scott Jorgensen last month at UFC 143 to extend his undefeated streak to 29. Barão’s other UFC wins include a submission over Brad Pickett at UFC 138 and a decision against Cole Escovedo at UFC 130.
Hougland won his Octagon debut last summer at UFC 132, defeating Donny Walker via unanimous decision. The win was ‘Hellbound’s’ ninth straight. Hougland was expected to face Mike Easton last October at UFC on Versus 6, but an injury forced Hougland off the card. Hougland has seven submission victories, two by decision and one via TKO.