Miocic replaces Velasquez in UFC 196 title fight with Werdum
Stipe Miocic will replace the injured Cain Velasquez in the UFC 196 matchup with heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum, UFC president Dana White announced Sunday.
Cain Velasquez is out with a back injury. Stipe vs Werdum for the heavyweight championship February 6th. pic.twitter.com/vPRJYJvOjL
— Dana White (@danawhite) January 24, 2016
Velasquez's back injury will deprive him of a rematch with Werdum, who submitted him last June to unify the belt.
Miocic is on a two-fight win streak, most recently knocking out former heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski at UFC 195 earlier in January.
The fight will take place a day before the Super Bowl on Saturday, Feb. 6 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. That gives Miocic just over a month to prepare for his first title shot.