UFC 195 has landed a heavyweight co-main event bout that could line up the winner for a title shot.
UFC officials on Wednesday announced that No. 3 ranked Stipe Miocic (13-2) would face former champ Andrei Arlovski (25-10, 1 NC), who is ranked No. 4 in the heavyweight division, in the UFC 195 co-main event on Jan. 2 in Las Vegas.
Miocic was originally slated to face Ben Rothwell at this weekend’s UFC Fight Night 76 in Dublin, but an undisclosed injury forced him off the card. The UFC was unsuccessful in finding a suitable replacement to fight Rothwell, so he was also removed from the card and a bout pitting Paddy Holohan against Louis Smolka was eventually elevated to main support status.
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Having bounced back from a loss to Junior dos Santos by knocking out Mark Hunt, Miocic will be looking to put a halt to Arlovski’s hot streak and crush the Belarusian’s dream of regaining the belt he last wore in 2006.
Arlovski, at 36 years of age, is currently in the midst of the most impressive winning streak of his career. His recent victory over Frank Mir put him at six consecutive wins, including knockouts of Travis Browne and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva.
Getting back to the UFC heavyweight championship would put a cherry on top of a career that reaches back to 1999.
The UFC 195 main event features welterweight champion Robbie Lawler putting his belt on the line against Carlos Condit at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
