Despite a report in June that Cleveland-based UFC heavyweight Stipe Miocic (13-2, 7-2 UFC) would get the first crack at new UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum, that will not be the case.
Miocic has been scheduled for a bout against Ben Rothwell (35-9, 5-3 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 76, which is set to take place in Dublin, Ireland on October 24.
The UFC also announced that Werdum’s first title defense will be against the man he defeated to earn the crown in June, Cain Velasquez.
Miocic and Rothwell are perhaps the two hottest heavyweights on the UFC roster, with both recently earning marquee wins that have secured their places among the upper echelong of an ever-aging heavyweight landscape. The winner of this bout is sure to be on the short list to receive a title shot heading into the new year.
The 32-year-old Miocic has won four of his last five UFC fights, with the only loss coming via a highly disputed decision against former champion Junior Dos Santos at UFC on FOX 13 last December. Miocic is currently ranked No. 3 in the UFC’s heavyweight rankings behind champion Werdum, and former champions Velasquez and Dos Santos.
The 33-year-old former IFL champion Rothwell has long been among the sport’s elite heavyweights, but he has kicked his career into a new gear in the last year, with wins over Alistair Overeem and Matt Mitrione to vault himself into contention. Currently ranked No. 6 in the division, he has also won four of his last five bouts after starting his UFC career off just 1-2.
UFC Fight Night 76 will be headlined by a lightweight scrap featuring Ireland’s own Joseph Duffy taking on Dustin Poirier. The entire card is expected to stream on UFC Fight Pass.