Countdown To UFC 198: Fabricio Werdum vs. Stipe Miocic
A blockbuster lineup of fights is set to go down at this weekend’s (Sat., May 14, 2016) UFC 198 from the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil, and none may be more pivotal than the heavyweight title bout between Fabricio Werdum and Stipe Miocic in the main event.
While it’s true that the anticipated clashes of Anderson Silva vs. Uriah Hall, Cris “Cyborg’s” UFC debut against Leslie Smith, and the middleweight co-main event between Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Vitor Belfort are no doubt anticipated bouts, Werdum vs. Miocic will be contested for the UFC’s biggest title, one that we simply haven’t see contested nearly enough in recent years.
The UFC heavyweight throne will be defended in the first time in nearly a year when Werdum returns for his first defense after submitting longtime former champion Cain Velasquez in the main event of last year’s UFC 188. The decorated “Vai Cavalo,” a longtime veteran known for possessing one of the most dangerous Brazilian Jiu-jitsu pedigrees in MMA history, has won nine out of his last 10 fights, including six in a row on his way to winning the UFC title since he returned to the octagon in early 2012.
Miocic, on the other hand, brings a much more modest win streak into UFC 198, having beaten Andrei Arlovski and Mark Hunt by TKO in his most recent bouts. Overall, he’s won five out of his last six with his only loss a controversial decision against Junior dos Santos, running his record to an impressive 14-2. But the Cleveland native may have gotten his title shot by default nonetheless, as Velasquez pulled out of his scheduled rematch with Werdum at February’s UFC 196, allowing Miocic to replace him.
Werdum pulled out of that fight citing a desire to not fight a short notice opponent with nagging injuries of his own, and Miocic was re-booked for UFC 198 in “Vai Cavalo’s” home country of Brazil.
That makes him dangerous, but it also heaps a ton of pressure on the dominant firefighter’s shoulders, as well.
Get hyped up for what could be an unpredictable and exciting heavyweight title showdown with the official Countdown to UFC 198: Fabricio Werdum vs. Stipe Miocic video right here:
