3 Fights added to UFC 165, including Wineland vs. Barao in Co-Main Event
The interim Bantamweight title was expected to be on the line in the main event of UFC 161, until Renan Barao (30-1) was sidelined lined with a foot injury. All Healed up, Baraos’ meeting with Eddie Wineland (20-8-1) has been rescheduled for UFC 165 and will serve as the events co-main event.
The UFC has also added Mark Bocek (11-5) vs. Michel Prazeres (16-1) at Lightweight and at Welterweight Chris “The Menace” Clements (11-4) vs. Stephen “Wonderboy” Thopmson (7-1) to the September 21 event.
Renan Barao has won 20 fights in a row and is undefeated in his last 30 contests. Barao is coming off his first successful interim Bantamweight title defense in which he submitted Michael McDonald at UFC on Fuel TV 7.
Eddie Wineland is 6-2 in his last 8 fights. Wineland ended his time in the WEC with wins over Manny Tapia (UD), George Roop (UD), Will Campuzano (KO), and Ken Stone (KO). The the WEC-UFC merger came and Wineland would drop back to back decisions to Team Alpha Male member Urijah Faber and Joseph Benavidez. Wineland has regrouped and earned his title shot win wins over Scott Jorgensen (KO) and Brad Pickett (SD)
Mark Bocek will be looking to bounce back coming off a unanimous decision loss to Rafael dos Anjos. Bocek had earned decision wins over Nik Lentz and John Alessio in his two prior contests.
Moving down from Welterweight too Lightweight Michel Prazeres will look to get back in the win column coming off his first professional loss at UFC on FX 8, when by unanimous decision Paulo Thiago would leave their confrontation as the victor.
Chris Clements is coming off a submission loss to Matt Riddle that was later overturned to a no-contest , when Riddle failed most fight drug screen. Prior to the Riddle bout Clements had defeated Caleb Grumment (TKO), Jonathan Goulet (KO), Travis Briere (TKO), Rich Clementi (TKO), and Keith Wisniewski (UD) in consecutive bouts.
After starting his career 5-0 Stephen Thompson was brought into the UFC. In his debut “Wonderboy” scored a highlight reel head kick knockout win over Daniel Stittgen. In his second UFC outing Thompson would go through a brawl with Matt Brown and come out of it on the losing end of a decision. At UFC 160 Thompson got back in the win column betting Hah-Shon Burrell for a decision victory.
UFC 165 is taking place on September 21 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and is headlined by Alexander “The Mauler” Gustafsson challenging Jon “Bones” Jones for the UFC Light Heavyweight title.
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