Barao (photo via Twitter / @RenanBaraoUFC)

By FCF Staff

With the news that UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz has undergone another knee surgery and could be out for much of 2013, the promotion and its interim champ Renan “Barao” Pegado have no choice but to move forward.

Barao, who outscored Urijah Faber to take the interim belt in July, reportedly relayed to MMA Junkie that he’s been mentally preparing for the prospect that Cruz wasn’t going to be fighting anytime soon. In addition, the 25 year-old champ said that a bout with 21 year-old prospect Michael McDonald “makes sense.”

McDonald (15-1) is coming off a first round knockout of former WEC champ Miguel Torres in April, which was his fourth straight win under the UFC banner.

Prior to defeating Faber, Barao (29-1-1) scored three consecutive wins in the Octagon, and has gone undefeated in 30 fights.

Although the UFC hasn’t announced any plans for a Barao-McDonald bout, President Dana White has acknowledged that McDonald is likely next in line for an interim title shot.