Evans=Henderson now UFC 161 Main Event

UFC interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao has been forced out of his main event at UFC 161 in Winnipeg versus Eddie Wineland due to an injury suffered during the final weeks of training camp.

UFC president Dana White tells MMAjunkie.com that Barao tore ligaments in one of his feet and was not cleared by doctors to compete.


As a result of the injury, what had been a co-main event between ex-light heavyweight titleholder Rashad Evans and PRIDE champion Dan Henderson is now the main event. Due to the late notice, it will remain a three-round fight. UFC main events are traditionally five-round affairs.

Other main-card matches at UFC 161 include former light heavyweight champion Mauricio (Shogun) Rua taking on Antonio Rogerio Nogueira; Todd Duffee against Shawn Jordan in a heavyweight bout; and Ontario native Alexis Davis meeting Rosi Sexton in a women’s bantamweight match.

Other Canadians competing on the card are Saskatoon lightweight Mitch Clarke against John Maguire and St. John, N.B. light heavyweight Ryan Jimmo versus Igor Pokrajac.


UFC 161 is essentially sold out, with fans on the first weekend tickets were available scooping up approximately 15,000 seats for a live gate expected to exceed $3 million. It goes June 15.