Eddie Wineland Picks Urijah Faber to Take Bantamweight Belt From Renan Barão at UFC 169

UFC bantamweight Eddie Wineland has seen both Uriah Faber and Renan Barão up close in the Octagon. Dropping a unanimous decision to Faber in 2011, and recently suffering a TKO loss to Barão, Wineland can give a fairly analytic perspective to the upcoming UFC 169 fight between the two.

Barão might have left the more devastating impression with the TKO, but it’s Faber whom Wineland thinks will be more impressive at next week’s pay-per-view.

“Not taking anything away from Renan, I like both guys, but I’m going to pick Urijah on that one,” Wineland said at the UFC on FOX 10 post-fight press conference. “I think he’s really tearing it up and he looks really good.”

The Faber-Barão tilt will headline UFC 169, which takes place in New Jersey one week after Wineland’s UFC on FOX 10 performance.

Wineland said he anticipates a great showcase with the upcoming main event in the Garden State. Picking Faber as the victor for next week’s PPV stems from Wineland’s shared observation with UFC president Dana White: Faber gets better with age.

Like Vitor Belfort, Faber has done well in his most recent years. Wineland said “The California Kid’s” recent run makes him a monster at 135 pounds.

“I think it’s going to be a really good fight,” Wineland said. “Urijah’s on a tear. Like Dana said, he’s got the Vitor effect going. He’s getting older, but he’s getting better. His last couple of fights, he’s looked like a monster.”