Fabio Maldonado vs. Stipe Miocic headlines TUF: Brazil 3 Finale card

The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3 Finale has a new main event.

UFC announced on Tuesday that Fabio Maldonado has accepted to move up to heavyweight and replace former UFC champion Junior dos Santos in a five-round battle against Stipe Miocic on May 31 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

“I’m really happy for this opportunity,” Maldonado stated in a release. “I’m been training for a long time for this. I’m at 223 pounds right now and I would keep this weight for the fight.”

“The fans will go nuts with this fight,” he continued. “I will go on his head, won’t leave any opening for him to breathe. His style is a good match-up for me and it’s going to be a great fight. His boxing is sharp, but mine is better.”

Maldonado (21-6) enters the cage in a three-fight win streak, scoring decision victories over Gian Villante, Joey Beltran and Roger Hollett in the light heavyweight division. Miocic (11-1) headlines his second UFC card, entering the contest riding a two-fight win streak with decisions over Gabriel Gonzaga and Roy Nelson.

The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3 Finale has a new main event.

UFC announced on Tuesday that Fabio Maldonado has accepted to move up to heavyweight and replace former UFC champion Junior dos Santos in a five-round battle against Stipe Miocic on May 31 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

“I’m really happy for this opportunity,” Maldonado stated in a release. “I’m been training for a long time for this. I’m at 223 pounds right now and I would keep this weight for the fight.”

“The fans will go nuts with this fight,” he continued. “I will go on his head, won’t leave any opening for him to breathe. His style is a good match-up for me and it’s going to be a great fight. His boxing is sharp, but mine is better.”

Maldonado (21-6) enters the cage in a three-fight win streak, scoring decision victories over Gian Villante, Joey Beltran and Roger Hollett in the light heavyweight division. Miocic (11-1) headlines his second UFC card, entering the contest riding a two-fight win streak with decisions over Gabriel Gonzaga and Roy Nelson.