UFC on Fox 13: Stipe Miocic Facing Biggest Challenge Yet in Junior Dos Santos

Stipe Miocic is looking to shake things up in the heavyweight division in a major way at UFC on Fox 13. And it's an opportunity he's been chasing for the better part of the year.

The former two-sport standout from Cleveland State University began his 2014 campaign by notching a victory over former title challenger Gabriel Gonzaga when the UFC returned to Chicago back in January. The Brazilian grappling ace has played the unofficial role of gatekeeper to the upper ranks of the heavyweight fold, and Miocic was able to use his superior boxing skills and wrestling to outwork "Napao" en route to a unanimous-decision victory at UFC on Fox 10.

Yet, while defeating Gonzaga was a big addition to Miocic's resume, when the UFC came to offer a bout with former champion Junior dos Santos, everything shifted up a notch in the 32-year-old Ohio native's career. "Cigano" has been one of the top two heavyweights in the world for the past three years—fighting was either champion or challenger in the majority of his bouts during that span—and stepping into the Octagon with "JDS" would automatically put Miocic on the title radar.

And with the heavyweight championship his ultimately destination, it was precisely the caliber of fight Miocic wanted.

That said, MMA is a chaotic sport, and the road to his showdown with the former champion hit more than a few snags. Where they were originally set to square off at UFC 173 in May, the bout was shifted to the main event of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3 Finale on May 31. Things would take a more severe turn when dos Santos was forced to pull out of the bout with an injury, and the promotion tapped resilient light heavyweight slugger Fabio Maldonado to step up a weight class and face Miocic.


Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2293898-ufc-on-fox-13-stipe-miocic-facing-biggest-challenge-yet-in-junior-dos-santos