UFC 200 has its first targeted bout according to a report on FOX Sports 1’s “UFC Tonight.”
Former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez (13-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC), the No. 2 ranked fighter in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA heavyweight rankings, could return to the octagon to face Travis Browne (18-3-1 MMA, 9-3-1 UFC) at the marquee event July 9 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The potential bout has not been confirmed by the UFC.
The bout would mark the first time Velasquez has entered the octagon since losing his title to Fabricio Werdum at UFC 188 this past June. Prior to the defeat, Velasquez rattled off four consecutive victories.
Following a layoff of over a year and a half, Velasquez was overwhelmed by Werdum before fatiguing and submitting to a third-round guillotine choke.
Browne, ranked No. 6, has experienced mixed results since 2014. After dropping a decision to Werdum at UFC on FOX 11, he rebounded with a TKO of Brendan Schaub at UFC 181. His success was short-lived, however, as he ran into the powerful hands of Andrei Arlovski, suffering a TKO loss at UFC 187.
In his most recent bout, Browne got back on the winning track with a third-round TKO of Matt Mitrione at UFC Fight Night 81 in January.
The winner of the bout will potentially emerge with the inside track on a fight for the heavyweight title, which Werdum will defend against Stipe Miocic at UFC 198 on May 14 in Brazil.
For more on UFC 200, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
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