Dana White confirms Renan Barao vs. Michael McDonald title fight in 2013 | UFC News

With the news that current UFC bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz will be on the shelf for another 6-9 months due to a second ACL surgery, UFC President Dana White has confirmed that interim champ Renan Barao (29-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) will now defend his belt against Michael McDonald (19-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) in early 2013.

Barao, who won the interim title by defeating Urijah Faber at UFC 149 in July, looks to remain undefeated in the octagon with a win over McDonald.

McDonald most recently saw action at April’s UFC 145 event, where he scored an impressive first-round knockout of former WEC champ Miguel Torres. “Mayday” is 5-0 under the Zuffa banner and at just 21 years old appears to be one of the division’s brightest prospects.

Stay tuned to BJPENN.com for further announcements regarding this match-up!