Michael Bisping-Tim Boetsch, Renan Barao-Jeff Hougland Added to UFC 148 Lineup

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Fresh off his comeback win over Yushin Okami in February, Tim Boetsch has established plenty of momentum in the UFC’s middleweight division.

On July 7, “The Barbarian” will attempt to keep his hot streak going against Michael Bisping (Pictured), one of two bouts added to the UFC 148 bill by promotion officials Monday. Rising bantamweight talent Renan “Barao” Pegado will lock horns with Jeff Hougland on the same card, which will take place at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Boetsch left the light heavyweight division following a submission loss to Phil Davis at UFC 123. He defeated Kendall Grove via unanimous nod in his middleweight debut at UFC 130 and followed that performance with a three-round triumph against Nick Ring last September. The AMC Pankration representative achieved the signature victory of his career in earning a technical knockout over Okami at UFC 144, overwhelming the Japanese fighter with a third-round flurry to force a stoppage.

Bisping saw a four-fight winning streak come to an end when he was outpointed by Chael Sonnen at UFC on Fox 2, with the loss costing him a shot at middleweight king Anderson Silva. “The Count” parted ways with his longtime gym Wolfslair Academy shortly thereafter. The Englishman’s 12 victories inside the Octagon puts him 11th on the UFC’s all-time wins list.

The owner of a 29-fight unbeaten streak, Barao last appeared at UFC 143, defeating former WEC title challenger Scott Jorgensen via unanimous decision. The 25-year-old Brazilian defeated Cole Escovedo in his UFC debut last May and followed up with a first-round submission of Brad Pickett at UFC 138.

After beginning his MMA career with losses in four of his first five outings, Hougland has reeled off nine straight wins, including a decision triumph over Donny Walker in his UFC debut last July. The Combat Sport and Fitness product has earned seven of his 10 career victories by submission.

UFC 148 is headlined by a bantamweight title tilt between Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber, and also features a middleweight clash pitting Rich Franklin against Cung Le.