Junior dos Santos returns, meets Stipe Miocic at UFC 173

A former heavyweight champion will make his return against a Top 10 fighter facing his biggest challenge at UFC 173.
Junior dos Santos is slated step into the Octagon on May 24 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. There, the former UFC champion …

A former heavyweight champion will make his return against a Top 10 fighter facing his biggest challenge at UFC 173.

Junior dos Santos is slated step into the Octagon on May 24 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. There, the former UFC champion will square off with once-beaten Stipe Miocic.

UFC Australia tweeted the matchup on Monday night.

Dos Santos (16-3) last fought in October at UFC 166 in Houston, when he was finished by current champion Cain Velasquez in the fifth round of their trilogy fight. Minus his pair of losses to Velasquez, dos Santos is 10-0 over the remainder of his UFC career.

Miocic (11-1), meanwhile, is stepping up for the biggest fight of his career. Miocic was finished by Stefan Struve in 2012, but has since rebounded for decision wins over Roy Nelson and Gabriel Gonzaga.

Combined, dos Santos and Miocic have 22 wins by finish in their 27 victories.

The UFC also tweeted out a lightweight bout for UFC 173, which is headlined by Chris Weidman vs. Lyoto Machida for the middleweight title. Poland’s Piotr Hallmann (14-2) will meet veteran Yves Edwards (42-20-1, 1 NC) on the card. Hallmann is coming off an October loss to Al Iaquinta, while Edwards is 1-3 with a no-contest in his past five fights.