Report: Dana White Says UFC Planning Title Shot Eliminator at Heavyweight
By FCF Staff
Following Cain Velasquez’s stoppage win over Junior dos Santos at UFC 166, it was announced that Fabricio Werdum would be the next to challenge for the heavyweight title. Since the champion recently underwent shoulder surgery, and will be sidelined for a good portion of 2014, however, evidently the plan has changed.
According to multiple reports, UFC President Dana White has announced that the winner of the UFC 168, Josh Barnett-Travis Browne fight, will face Werdum at a date to be determined. The winner of that bout will meet Velasquez when he returns.
Barnett (33-6) is coming off a stoppage win over Frank Mir and is 9-1 in his last 10 fights. The only man to defeat him during that stretch is Daniel Cormier.
Browne (15-1-1) knocked out Alistair Overeem in his last outing and his only loss to date came against Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in October, 2012.
UFC 168 will be hosted by the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.