UFC 130 is set to take place on Saturday, May 28 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event on the card will feature a light heavyweight battle between former UFC champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Matt Hamill. The co-main event will be a heavyweight showdown between two highly ranked fighters, former UFC champion Frank Mir and Roy “Big Country” Nelson.
Fighting on the undercard of UFC 130 will be Cole Escovedo (17-6) and Renan “Barao” Pegado (25-1 with one no contest).
Escovedo will make his return to the Zuffa fold after being away since falling to Antonio Banuelos by unanimous decision at WEC 23 back in August of 2006.
Escovedo was the first WEC featherweight champion, capturing that crown back in 2002. He held that title until 2006, losing to Urijah Faber. Following his 2006 loss to Banuelos, Escovedo was forced out of competition for over two years when complications from a staph infection left him temporarily paralyzed. Since coming back to competition, Escovedo has put together a record of 6-2.
Escovedo’s opponent, “Barao,” is just 24 years old, but already has 27 professional fights under his belt. His lone loss came in his first bout, dropping a split decision to Joao Paulo in April 2005. The only other blemish on his record is a no contest due to an illegal soccer kick in his bout with Claudemir Souza in 2007.
Bleacher Report’s Dale De Souza described “Barao” as the “most lethal and most promising bantamweight you’ve never heard of,” when putting together the highlights of his career.
The Escovedo versus “Barao” fight will be available live via streaming video on the UFC’s facebook page.
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