Ex-UFC champ Renan Barao returns vs. Horacio Gutierrez at Eagle FC 44 on Jan. 28

Renan Barao is set to compete for the first time in over two years.

Barao (34-9) will face Horacio Gutierrez (7-3) at Eagle FC 44 on Jan. 28 in Miami.

A person with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie but asked to remain anonymous because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. MMA Fighting was first to report the news.

Barao, a former UFC bantamweight champion, hasn’t competed since his departure from the promotion in 2019. After going on an incredible 33-fight unbeaten run, including a title defense over former WEC champ Urijah Faber, Barao was dominated in a title loss to T.J. Dillashaw in May 2014.

Barao would go 2-7 from that point and has lost his past five in a row. Barao was scheduled to face Ex-UFC fighter Bobby Moffett at Taura MMA 12 in November 2020. However, the bout was canceled when the event was indefinitely postponed. Barao was then booked in a featherweight bout against Tyson Duckworth at Premier FC 32 in November, but that bout was also canceled when Duckworth withdrew.

Gutierrez, a former Season 2 “Ultimate Fighter: Latin America” alum, went 0-2 in the UFC with losses to Enrique Barzola and Teruto Ishihara before getting released. Since his departure from the UFC, the 31-year-old Mexican fighter has won four straight but hasn’t competed since defeating Marlon Gonzales at Combate 52 in December 2019.

Eagle FC 44 will now be headlined by a heavyweight fight between Tyrone Spong and Sergei Kharitonov. Spong originally was scheduled to face former UFC title challenger Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, but Silva was forced out. ESPN was first to report the main event change. The even also will feature the return of UFC Hall of Famer Rashad Evans, who is coming out of retirement.