Dana White gives Stipe Miocic a title shot – because he's scared not to

LAS VEGAS – After stopping ex-champ Andrei Arlovski in 54 seconds at Saturday’s UFC 195, UFC heavyweight Stipe Miocic raged around the octagon, screaming several times in the direction of UFC executives sitting by.

Slightly calmed afterward, Miocic was apparently granted a title shot by UFC commentator Joe Rogan. But that’s no great surprise to UFC President Dana White, who made it official.

“Who the hell was going to say no to him?” White said at the event’s press conference at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. “He was like a psycho. I wasn’t going to say no.”

Miocic, according to White, was repeatedly screaming, “Are we on the same page now?!”

“We are on the same page, Stipe” added the UFC executive to MMAjunkie.

The two shook hands on it, sealing the deal at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena, where the heavyweight co-headliner took place.

So, Miocic will move on to face the winner of a title rematch between champ Fabricio Werdum and Cain Velasquez, which is scheduled for next month at UFC 196 on Feb. 6 in Las Vegas.

This is considerably good news for Miocic, who’s won two straight and entered title contention with a lopsided win over Mark Hunt.

Previously scheduled to fight Ben Rothwell at UFC Fight Night 76, Miocic suffered a back injury that forced him to withdraw from the event. He was subsequently offered the bout with Arlovski, who’d previously won four straight UFC bouts after re-signing with the promotion in 2014.

Arlovski’s (25-11 MMA, 14-5 UFC) streak came to a crashing end when Miocic (14-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) landed a right hook that dropped him to the canvas. Follow-up punches sealed the deal for the first-round TKO.

Considerably calmed down after his outburst, a seated Miocic assessed his performance. He also made sure White knew where he stood.

“I think so,” he said when asked if he did enough to earn his title opportunity. “I did it in good fashion, and I would like that.”

As to his preference, Miocic doesn’t care whom he faces, whether it’s Werdum or Velasquez.

“I want my shot,” he said with a smile.

And he’s getting it – or White is going to have one very angry man on his hands.

For complete coverage of UFC 195, check out the UFC Events section of the site.