UFC Breaking News: DREAM Bantamweight Champion Bibiano Fernandes Joins the UFC

Earlier today, it was reported on the MMA Hour that the current DREAM bantamweight champion and former DREAM featherweight champion, Bibiano Fernandes, has signed with the UFC.

It was being reported that DREAM had recently closed its doors and would no longer be running shows. It was also being said that ONE FC would absorb the roster, which is apparently not entirely true.

Fernandes is a very big name to join the UFC, and according to the official B/R bantamweight rankings, Fernandes is the No. 9 bantamweight in the world and was the second best bantamweight not residing in the UFC.

For those who don't know much about Fernandes, he is 11-3 in his career with five finishes and wins over Masakazu Imanari, Joe Warren, Joachim Hansen and Antonio Banuelos.

Fernandes most recently won the DREAM 2011 Bantamweight World Grand Prix, where he defeated Takafumi Otsuka in September and then Rodolfo Marques and Banuelos on December 31 at the DREAM New Years Event.

Fernandes will have his debut fight at UFC 149 where he will face off against 8-1 Roland Delorme.

Tim McTiernan is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. For the latest news on everything MMA, follow him on Twitter @TimMcTiernan.