Dana White: Werdum's 1st challenger will be Arlovski or Miocic

Losing in spectacular fashion does not afford a champion the right to an immediate rematch.

For the second time in his career, Cain Velasquez will have to earn his way back into UFC heavyweight title contention. Velasquez was submitted in the third round of UFC 188's main event courtesy of an unbelievable Fabricio Werdum guillotine choke. He was the favorite in the bout and considered the top heavyweight in the world, but he'll watch Werdum make his first defense against another 265-pounder.

UFC president Dana White revealed Thursday that, while the promotion is yet to make a firm decision, Werdum will defend the title against either Andrei Arlovski or Stipe Miocic.

White admitted that Junior dos Santos would be his preferred challenger, but although dos Santos is angling for the fight, he remains sidelined indefinitely. Dos Santos has lost twice to Velasquez in three fights, but hasn't lost in the UFC otherwise, and beat Miocic in December.

"It's either going to be Stipe or Arlovski," White said in a Periscope Q&A with fans Thursday, according to MMAjunkie. "Dos Santos should get that fight, I agree. Dos Santos should get that fight, but he's hurt. So he can't take it."

Miocic and Arlovski rank third and fourth, respectively, on UFC's heavyweight contender list, behind only Velasquez and dos Santos. Miocic (13-2, 7-2 in UFC) has only lost to dos Santos since the start of 2013 and brings serious knockout power to any fight. Arlovski (24-10-1, 13-4 in UFC) is likely a bigger draw given his robust history in the sport, and he's won all three of his bouts since returning to the promotion in June 2014.

The UFC probably would have preferred a Miocic-Arlovski title eliminator while dos Santos drew the shot, but either contingency should prove interesting.

The 37-year-old Werdum (20-5-1, 8-2 in UFC) has won all six fights since rejoining the UFC in 2012, finishing four of those fights.