UFC's Stipe Miocic: I have what it takes to beat Cain Velasquez or Fabricio Werdum

Affable as he is self-deprecating, UFC heavyweight Stipe Miocic jokes that a fan of his is “one of not many.”

But in his heart and mind, a different message emerges, and that’s seen in the cage.

Miocic (13-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) is back in the win column with a brutal fourth-round TKO of onetime interim title challenger Mark Hunt on May 9 at UFC Fight Night 65, which follows a unanimous-decision loss to ex-champ Junior Dos Santos this past December.

Miocic knows exactly what he wants next for his career: a fight with the winner of UFC 188’s headliner between champ Cain Velasquez (13-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC) and interim titleholder Fabricio Werdum (19-5-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC). Either is fine. He has no preference who wins when the undisputed and interim champ meet to unify the belts.

“They’re both great fighters, but I know I have what it takes to be beat them,” he told MMAjunkie Radio.

Velasquez vs. Werdum, which headlines UFC 188 on June 13, promises movement for the rest of the division, including Miocic. Velasquez has been sidelined due to injury since October 2013. Werdum has emerged as the interim champ after a TKO win over Hunt.

A five-round title affair awaits Miocic if he gets the next title shot, but that’s something the part-time paramedic has accustomed himself to as a headlining fighter. His past two bouts have served as 25-minute main events, though he didn’t need the full time against Hunt.

“The longer I go in a fight, the better it is because I’m used to it,” Miocic said.

Now, he’ll wait to see if the UFC is on the same page and is ready to grant him a chance. When he’s in the cage, he’s not as good-natured.

For more on UFC Fight Night 65, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

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