UFC 196 Takes place in less than two and now it is without a main event. Originally, it was supposed to be headlined by Fabricio Werdum rematching former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, but as of yesterday Velasquez fell of the match with an injury. This is not the first time that Velasquez has fallen out of a match, because it took three times before the match with Werdum transpired. That was last year when Velasquez lost his title by submission; he was set to try and reclaim it but now it looks like it will not happen .
Stipe Miocic stepped up to replace Velasquez on two weeks notice. He set himself up for a title match by capturing the number one contenders title with a first round knockout of Andrei Arlovski earlier this month. Miocic is not even a full-time fighter since he also carries a job as a firefighter as well, but he said he was training for the inevitable since he knew it was likely that one of the fighters would fall out of the title fight.
He was truly deleted by the chance to fight for that title, but his happiness was short-lived is the champion house now backed out of the fight as well. Werdum has announced his withdrawal from the about less than 12 hours after his new challenger was announced. This has led some to believe that he has dropped out due to fright of fighting the new challenger. The champion says this is not true as he was already injured before Velasquez how drop out of the title fight, but it is concerning that he says he would still fight if Velasquez was still in the fight as well.
The champion has cited old age and nagging injuries as a reason he has dropped out saying that he cannot be like a 20-year-old anymore. Now that he is champion he has to treat his body as such as well at the age of 38. He has set his return for 2 to 3 months and will fight anyone the promotion puts in front of him. What do you think? Is the champion scared? Or is he truly injured?