Cruz Out; Barao-Faber for Bantam Crown

The bad luck for Dominick Cruz continues, as it was announced by UFC President Dana White Monday that after being sidelined since late-2011 with a knee injury, Cruz has suffered a groin tear, forcing him out of his UFC 169 main event in New Jersey against interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao.

After this latest turn of events, Cruz has chosen to vacate his title, and Urijah Faber will now step up to face Barao, who was named bantamweight champion, for the undisputed 135-pound crown on February 1 at the Prudential Center in Newark.

Faber has won four straight bouts since a decision loss to Barao at UFC 149 in July of 2012. Brazil’s Barao currently sports a 21 fight winning streak, and he has not lost since April of 2005.

In the UFC 169 co-main event, Jose Aldo defends his featherweight crown against Ricardo Lamas.