While he wasn't healthy enough to headline Saturday's (June 15, 2013) UFC 161 fight card, interim Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bantamweight titleholder Renan Barao claims he is completely recovered from his injuries and wants a fight immediately.
Barao withdrew from his scheduled main event bout with Eddie Wineland due to a foot injury suffered in training, and it was expected the damage could sideline him until 2014.
UFC President Dana White said at Thursday's (June 13, 2013) UFC 161 media day that he was unsure of when the 26-year-old would be ready to get back in the Octagon, and recommended Wineland take another fight while waiting for the Brazilian to return.
Fortunately, that won't be the case, as Barao said he's ready to go as soon as possible.
"Hello @danawhite @ufc ! I'm back and I'm very excited to fight again," Barao wrote in his official Twitter account. "You can schedule my new fight now. I'm 100%."
Ecstatic about reading the news on Twitter, Wineland responded to the interim champ and pushed for the UFC to rebook the fight that was originally supposed to take place this weekend at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
"Ready if you are @RenanBaraoUFC come on over to Milwaukee and we will get it done!" Wineland wrote on Twitter. "Glad to hear ur ankle is better!"
Barao was quick to respond to Wineland and agreed to the match up while listing several potential locations for the fight to take place.
"Thanks, bro. Let's do this by fans!" he said. "Could be in Milwaukee, Brazil, UK, Canada, Natal... Anywhere!! So, @danawhite ??"
Without any other clear-cut title-ready challengers in the bantamweight division at this time and no return date targeted for Dominick Cruz, it would appear fans should be expecting Barao vs. Wineland in the near future.