For the second-straight UFC event, a main event fighter can make history.
At UFC 156, former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar
fought UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo in an effort to become just the third fighter in UFC history to hold two belts in two different divisions
(BJ Penn and Randy Couture are the others). Unfortunately for both Edgar and the history books, he was on the wrong end of a close decision, so now it’s up to another main event fighter to make history this weekend at UFC on FUEL TV 7.
If Michael McDonald defeats UFC interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao on Saturday night in London, he will become the youngest-ever UFC champion, surpassing the record held by UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who was 23 when he won the title.
McDonald is only 22 years old and he’s already proven himself to be one of the top five bantamweights in the sport. And if he defeats Barao and rewrites the history book, we have to seriously consider McDonald as not only one of the best fighters in the 135-pound division, but one of the very best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet.
McDonald, a native of Modesto, California, is 15-1 in his MMA career, which began when he was only 16 years old. Nine of those wins have come by knockout, and four have come by way out tapout. McDonald is a prodigy of the sport in the vein of Rory MacDonald and Michael Chandler, and he has earned his title shot by taking out veterans such as Miguel Torres, Chris Cariaso, and Cole Escovedo with ease. He may be only 22 years old on his birth certificate, but anyone who has ever heard him talk knows he’s mature much beyond his years.
He will be up against a stiff challenge in his quest to make history. In Barao, he faces a Brazilian killer who hasn’t lost in 29 straight fights. At this point, it’s impossible to bet against Barao, who has looked like an absolute beast with his lopsided defeats of fighters such as Urijah Faber, Brad Pickett, and Scott Jorgensen inside the Octagon. But if there’s anyone out there who can upset Barao, it’s McDonald, who is a heavy puncher with heart for days.
This is an excellent title fight main event for a FUEL TV card and I know the fans in England are ecstatic the UFC finally brought them a loaded card after years of giving them watered-down events. Not this time, though. McDonald vs. Barao is going to be an absolute war, and the winner of the fight is going to earn a chance to unify the UFC interim bantamweight title with that of UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz this summer.
McDonald is facing the toughest challenge of his career to date, but do not be surprised if he pulls off the upset, because he most certainly has the tools to do so. But even if he doesn’t, this won’t be the last time McDonald fights for the title. He’ll be one of the top dogs in the division for the next decade barring injury, and perhaps even in the featherweight division once he eventually grows into his frame and is forced to move up a weight class.
But Saturday night in England is the only chance he’ll have to make history. Will he make the most of it? We’ll have to wait and find out.
UFC on FUEL TV 7: Barao vs. McDonald is due to take place on February 16, 2013 at Wembley Arena in London, UK.
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