Interim champ Barao hopes Cruz makes February deadline, has no Plan B preference

BARUERI, Brazil – There are two reasons UFC interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao was back in camp on Sunday. For one, he’s hopeful champ Dominick Cruz will be ready to go for a title-unification bout in February. As for the second reason, he looks at his belly and gives it a jiggle.

“I’ve been eating a lot,” the champ told MMAjunkie.com with a smile.

He’s also apparently been eating often. Following his UFC 165 co-main-event knockout of Eddie Wineland on Sept. 21, the 135-pounder took a break and ate like a heavyweight. His fare of choice? Burgers, pasta, pizza, soda and more.

“Basically every junk food ever,” a laughing Barao said.

But with a well-deserved break now over, Barao (31-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC) is back in camp. He said he returned to the gym on Monday for a little boxing and pad work. In the next few weeks, he’ll amp up the intensity, shed the weight, and prepare for a February title fight.

The only issue is that he has no idea whom he’ll be fighting. Cruz (19-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC), who’s been on the sidelines the past two years due to knee injuries, is obviously his preference. Barao posts a gaudy 31-fight winning streak, and he’s the only fighter in UFC history to successfully defend an interim title twice. However, until he fights Cruz, he believes his body of work remains incomplete.

UFC President Dana White recently issued a February deadline for Cruz’s return. If he can’t make it, White said he’ll be stripped of the title, and the “interim” tag will be removed from Barao’s.

“What Dana White decided was that in February, either Dominick is coming back, or he’s making a decision,” Barao said. “I hope he comes back because I want to be able to fight him for everyone. I’ve been waiting for this fight for so long. I’ll go for it and give it my all.

“I have to fight him to take off that little [asterisk] that’s still on my record. We have a score to settle.”

But if Cruz can’t come back, does Barao have a preference on an opponent? After all, in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie.com MMA bantamweight rankings, aside from Cruz, Barao has already defeated the four fighters – Urijah Faber, Michael McDonald, Wineland and Brad Pickett – ranked behind him.

“No preference,” Barao said. “I’m training to face whoever shows up. Whoever comes, I’ll show what I’ve been working on.”

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.