Stipe Miocic went from your contender for the sidelines, into a potential UFC 196 headliner and title challenger, to the sidelines inside of a few days. But one thing he’s not? A fight-ducker.
The UFC heavyweight is attempting to set the record straight carrying out a flurry of activity that shook up next week’s UFC 196 card – and sparked some rumors in regards to a potential Miocic vs. Jon Jones fight on the Feb. 6 Las Vegas event. UFC 196 live stream
If you want a refresher, here’s the way all occurred (or look into the video below to get a recap): On Monday former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez (13-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) brought out of his rematch with current titleholder Fabricio Werdum (20-5-1 MMA, 8-2 UFC). Miocic (14-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) then stepped in instead, but citing foot and back injuries, Werdum then also removed of the event. UFC 196 then lacked a headliner, and former light-heavyweight champion Jones (21-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) mentioned he’d progress a weight class and component of – but only when the heavyweight title were for the line, meaning Werdum could be stripped in the belt, and Jones and Miocic would then fight for this.
Of course, Werdum, who’s held the belt just seven months, wasn’t stripped in the title. And without the need of replacement bout available, a welterweight fight between former champ Johny Hendricks (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) and fellow contender Stephen Thompson (11-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) was promoted on the co-main event for the main event, and UFC 196’s main card now airs on FOX Sports 1 rather then pay-per-view.
Got all of that?
UFC 196 Moved from Pay-Per-View to Fox Sports 1 After Main Event Cancellation
Well, things then got problematic for Miocic following Twitter speculation how the easygoing 33-year-old ended up offered your dream with Jones, who’s ranked No. one inch the MMAjunkie/USA TODAY Sports MMA pound-for-pound rankings (and No. 1 at light heavyweight), and turned it down. Miocic, ranked No. 3 at heavyweight, flatly denied it, though (via Twitter):
UFC 196 just went from the disappointing pay-per-view offering to your high-end cable card.
UFC President Dana White on Tuesday informed Yahoo Sports that this Feb. 6 event will air on Fox Sports 1 as an alternative to pay-per-view following your heavyweight championship headliner was taken out of the bill caused by multiple injuries.
A heavyweight title rematch between Fabricio Werdum and Cain Velasquez was scheduled to headline UFC 196, but on Sunday Velasquez withdrew through the contest, citing a back injury. Stipe Miocic was quickly tabbed for taking American Kickboxing Academy product’s place, but Werdum served the next day due to some back ailment of their own, leaving the greeting card with no suitable fill-in for that main event.
UFC 196 comes about at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and is also headlined by way of a welterweight showdown between Johny Hendricks and Stephen Thompson. The main draw includes a heavyweight bout pitting Roy Nelson against Jared Rosholt; the light source heavyweight clash between Ovince St. Preux and Rafael Cavalcante along with a flyweight scrap between Joseph Benavidez and Zach Makovsky.
UFC 196 is moved to Fox Sports 1
With no clear replacement for save the morning, UFC 196 is now being taken off of pay-per-view making into a Fox Sports 1 card, UFC president Dana White told Yahoo Sports on Tuesday.
The show will likely be headlined by way of a welterweight bout between ex-champion Johny Hendricks and Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson. It will certainly be held on Feb. 6 on the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.
The trouble for your card began on Sunday, when former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez was expected to withdraw on the event, citing a back injury. The UFC quickly offered the bout to Stipe Miocic, who accepted. But as Miocic was doing interviews Monday to advertise the reconfigured show, shocking news broke that champion Fabricio Werdum was removing.
Werdum said he previously had several injuries, but would have been prepared to fight through the crooks to compete against Velasquez. But he wasn't willilng to accomplish the same against Miocic, and so the heavyweight bout was scrapped entirely.
Several fighters, that include Josh Barnett and Ben Rothwell, volunteered to defend myself against Miocic within the main event of UFC 196 for your heavyweight title. That for several reasons would have been a problem, though, with the UFC, not the very least of which is they are fighting 1 another on Fox on Saturday in Newark, N.J.
So the heavyweight fight is yanked on the show plus the rest with the card may go on as planned, with Hendricks-Thompson because main event. Also set with the main card is usually a heavyweight bout between Roy Nelson and Jared Rosholt; a lightweight heavyweight clash between Ovince Saint Preux and Rafael Cavalcante along with a flyweight bout between Joseph Benavidez and Zach Makovsky.