Report: Stipe Miocic vs. Junior dos Santos targeted for UFC 211

Stipe Miocic’s next title defense will reportedly be against the last man to defeat him, Junior dos Santos.

Junior dos Santos was scheduled to fight Stefan Struve at UFC Halifax on February 19th, but was pulled from the card after Struve suffered an injury, and UFC officials couldn’t find a suitable replacement. Instead, it looks like dos Santos will upgrade in a major way and fight for the heavyweight title.

Combate reported on Tuesday that the former UFC champion will go up against current champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 211 in Dallas, Texas. UFC officials have not confirmed the matchup, and Ariel Helwani noted that this fight is “far from done.”

Miocic (16-2) won the UFC heavyweight title last year with a thudding one-punch KO of Fabricio Werdum, at UFC 198 in May. The Ohioan then defended his title in front of his home fans in Cleveland, and rallied from an early knockdown to knockout Alistair Overeem in September’s UFC 203 main event. During his four-fight winning streak, Miocic has scored three consecutive opening round (T)KOs, having previously never managed even back-to-back first round stoppages in his entire career.

Dos Santos (18-4) last fought in April, dispatching Ben Rothwell by unanimous decision in the UFC Zagreb main event His dominant display got him back in the win column after a TKO loss to Alistair Overeem in December 2015. The Brazilian has fought just once in each of the past three years, but one of those bouts was a thrilling, five-round unanimous decision win over Miocic at UFC on FOX 13 in December 2014.

UFC 211 is scheduled for Saturday, May 13th at the American Airlines Center. The night’s main card will air live on pay-per-view.

Stipe Miocic’s next title defense will reportedly be against the last man to defeat him, Junior dos Santos.

Junior dos Santos was scheduled to fight Stefan Struve at UFC Halifax on February 19th, but was pulled from the card after Struve suffered an injury, and UFC officials couldn’t find a suitable replacement. Instead, it looks like dos Santos will upgrade in a major way and fight for the heavyweight title.

Combate reported on Tuesday that the former UFC champion will go up against current champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 211 in Dallas, Texas. UFC officials have not confirmed the matchup, and Ariel Helwani noted that this fight is “far from done.”

Miocic (16-2) won the UFC heavyweight title last year with a thudding one-punch KO of Fabricio Werdum, at UFC 198 in May. The Ohioan then defended his title in front of his home fans in Cleveland, and rallied from an early knockdown to knockout Alistair Overeem in September’s UFC 203 main event. During his four-fight winning streak, Miocic has scored three consecutive opening round (T)KOs, having previously never managed even back-to-back first round stoppages in his entire career.

Dos Santos (18-4) last fought in April, dispatching Ben Rothwell by unanimous decision in the UFC Zagreb main event His dominant display got him back in the win column after a TKO loss to Alistair Overeem in December 2015. The Brazilian has fought just once in each of the past three years, but one of those bouts was a thrilling, five-round unanimous decision win over Miocic at UFC on FOX 13 in December 2014.

UFC 211 is scheduled for Saturday, May 13th at the American Airlines Center. The night’s main card will air live on pay-per-view.