Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

The U.K. is getting its first taste of 135-pound UFC gold.

UFC London, also known as UFC on FUEL TV 7, will be headlined by Renan Barao defending his interim bantamweight title against challenger Michael McDonald, the UFC announced early Thursday.

The card, which is just beginning to get filled with fights, will take place at Wembley Arena on Saturday, Feb. 16.

The announcement of the interim title fight headlining the card comes just two days after UFC president Dana White said Barao and McDonald will meet some time in 2013.

The company also announced several other bouts for the U.K. card, including a welterweight fight between Matt Riddle and English fighter Che Mills.

The UFC London card to date is as follows:

• Renan Barao vs. Michael McDonald
• Che Mills vs. Matt Riddle
• Terry Etim vs. Renee Forte
• Paul Sass vs. Danny Castillo
• Billy Harris vs. Ulysses Gomez
• Vaughan Lee vs. Motonobu Tezuka
• Andy Ogle vs. Josh Grispi

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Renan Barão put on a virtuous display in his first-round win over Brad Pickett. Photo: UFC publicity

UFC interim bantamweight champion Renan Barao will defend his title against Michael McDonald, UFC president Dana White said on Tuesday night.

White told the UFC Tonight show on FUEL TV that Barao (29-1) will fight McDonald (15-1) some time in 2013. A date and venue for the interim title fight is yet to be announced.

The announcement comes 24 hours after it was reported that current bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz’s return from injury will be delayed following a second surgery to his knee.

With Cruz on the shelf for longer than expected, Barao and McDonald will battle in the meantime. The winner will face Cruz upon the champion’s return.

Barao has decimated his way through the UFC’s bantamweight ranks, most recently topping Urijah Faber for the interim belt at UFC 149 in July. The Brazilian fighter holds a remarkable 29-fight unbeaten streak (one fight being a no-contest) since losing in his professional MMA debut in 2005.

McDonald has created an impressive streak of his own, winning eight consecutive fights, six of which were finishes. Arguably, McDonald’s biggest win came in his last outing when he knocked out former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres in the first round at UFC 145.

GRACIEMAG.com will update the date and venue for the interim title fight as more information becomes available.

For more UFC and MMA coverage,

visit GRACIEMAG.com’s Choke MMA section