Former WEC bantamweight champ, Eddie Wineland, was originally tasked with facing Demetrious Johnson at the upcoming UFC on Fox 2 event in Chicago on January 28th, but now Johnson has been shifted into a spot in the inaugural flyweight tournament in March, and Wineland has a new opponent. TUF 14 semifinalist, Johnny Bedford, has gotten the call and confirmed via Twitter today that he will face Wineland in Chicago:
Its official!! I am fighting ex WEC Champ Eddie Wineland
@ufconfox in Chicago on Jan 28!#movinup
Bedford, who is already quite large at 135 lbs., looked absolutely beastly in his dominant win over Louis Gaudinot at the season finale a few weeks ago. The Texas native is also one of the more experienced fighters to compete on his season of TUF, with 28 career fights to his name already at 28 years of age. Wineland, on the other hand, is looking to right his ship after following up a four-fight winning streak in 2010 with two consecutive losses in 2011, albeit to stiff competition in the form of Urijah Faber and Joseph Benavidez. Wineland wasn’t exactly outclassed in those losses, but he showed notable hesitancy on his feet while concentrating on his takedown defense, leading to him getting outstruck despite being perceived as having the striking advantage in those fights.
“Brutal” Johnny Bedford (18-9-1)
W Louis Gaudinot (TKO) – TUF 14 Finale
W Frank Gomez (submission – RNC) – Jackson’s MMA 3
L Edwin Figueroa (TKO) – KOK 9
Eddie Wineland (18-8-1)
L Joseph Benavidez (unam. decision) – UFC on Versus 5
L Urijah Faber (unam. decision) – UFC 128
W Ken Stone (KO – slam) – WEC 53