{"id":239156,"date":"2017-05-27T12:42:03","date_gmt":"2017-05-27T19:42:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/?p=239156"},"modified":"2017-05-27T12:42:45","modified_gmt":"2017-05-27T19:42:45","slug":"report-ufc-already-opponent-mind-stipe-mioicics-next-title-defense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/mma-news\/stipe-miocic\/report-ufc-already-opponent-mind-stipe-mioicics-next-title-defense\/","title":{"rendered":"Report | The UFC already has an opponent in mind for Stipe Mioicic’s next title defense"},"content":{"rendered":"

Report | The UFC already has an opponent in mind for Stipe Mioicic’s next title defense<\/strong><\/p>\n

UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic (17-2 MMA) successfully defended his title earlier this month at UFC 211 in Dallas, where he scored a first-round TKO victory over former division title holder Junior dos Santos<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The victory served as Miocic’s fifth in a row and second title defense, as he had previously knocked out Alistair Overeem in the first-round of their headlining scrap at UFC 203 this past September in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.<\/p>\n

The proud Ohio native, Miocic, captured the UFC’s coveted heavyweight title in May of 2016 at UFC 198 in Brazil, where he earned a first-round knockout victory over Fabricio Werdum.<\/p>\n

\"Stipe<\/p>\n

All five of Miocic’s most recent victories have come by way of knockout, disposing of top contenders Mark Hunt, Andrei Arlovski, Fabricio Werdum, Alistair Overeem and most recently the aforementioned Junior dos Santos in that time.<\/p>\n

Following his victory over “JDS”, Miocic teased fight fans with the idea of potentially having a boxing match with current heavyweight champion of the world Anthony Joshua.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, surging heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou stated his desire to receive the next opportunity at Miocic’s heavyweight strap.<\/p>\n

However, according to MMAFighting’s Ariel Helwani the UFC is looking to book Ngannou against former title holder Junior dos Santos at a yet to be announced pay-per-view event this August<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So what is next for Miocic?<\/p>\n

Well according to BJPENN.com’s Chris Taylor<\/a>, the promotion is actively working on setting up a bout between Stipe Miocic and former division kingpin Cain Velasquez for later this summer.<\/p>\n

\n

I'm told that the UFC is aiming to have former champ @cainmma<\/a> be the next man to challenge @stipemiocicufc<\/a>. Either late summer or early fall<\/p>\n

— Chris Taylor (@CTaylor_96) May 27, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n