Stipe Miocic Replaces Injured Cain Velasquez for UFC 196 Title Fight With Fabricio Werdum

UFC President Dana White has announced on twitter that former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has been sidelined with a back injury, and he has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled heavyweight title bout with champion Fabricio Werdum at UFC 196. Replacing Velasquez will be top contender Stipe Miocic, who is coming off a big knockout win over Andrei Arlovski at UFC 195.

For Velasquez, this is yet another huge setback after dealing with a string of various injuries. UFC 188 was his first title fight in almost two years after he had a number of back-to-back injury layoffs.

Miocic gets the title opportunity he has been wanting for a while. However, he takes the fight against Werdum on very short notice. UFC 196 is set for February 6 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Cain Velasquez is out with a back injury. Stipe vs Werdum for the heavyweight championship February 6th. pic.twitter.com/vPRJYJvOjL

— Dana White (@danawhite) January 24, 2016