Heavyweights in for a Shake-up?

Heavyweights in for a Shake-up?

 

 

            Stipe Miocic is heading to Brazil, not on vacation, his purpose is to return home with the UFC’s Heavweight Championship Belt in his carry-on luggage. Ten of Miocic’s fourteen wins have come by KO/TKO, including his fifth round TKO of Mark Hunt last May and his January 2^nd stoppage of Andrei Arlovski in just 0:54.

 

            In order to come home Champ, Stipe will have to beat 20-5-1 Fabricio Werdum. Werdum is on a well-rounded, six fight win streak, with two Unanimous Decisions, two submissions and two TKO’s. Werdum beat Mark Hunt with a second round TKO to become the interim HW Champ and then choked former Champion, Cain Velasquez to submission last June to wear the UFC’s top honor. Werdum is scheduled to attempt his first title defense, May 14^th at UFC 198.

A fight taking place in the HW division a month earlier may line up nicely as the next match up for the eventual champ (baring an immediate rematch). Ben Rothwell 36-9 takes on Junior Dos Santos 17-4 in Zagreb, Croatia April 10^th. Check your local listings because coverage begins in the morning.

Rothwell has finished his last four fights in the UFC, two subs and two TKO’s. Of his 36 wins only 3 have come by decision (all unanimous btw). 20 TKO/KO and 13 Subs. A convincing win will likely be just what Ben needs to earn a title shot.

If Junior “Cigano” Dos Santos (what does a guy named Junior need a nickname for?) wins he won’t likely get a shot at the belt. The former champ has gone 2-3 in his last five, but UFC 200 may produce a worthy adversary to the HW crown.

 

Former Champ, Cain Velasquez faces 18-3-1 Travis Browne at the July 9^th show. Velasquez’s 6/13/15 loss to Werdum was only the second of Cain’s career. A career that has seen him KO/TKO 9 UFC HW opponents.

Travis Browne is 2-2 in his last four, like JDS (#namehog), a win won’t likely result in a title shot, but you never know. The HW Division has a short memory and a convincing win, may be all either need to present a convincing argument toward a date with the champ.