Northeast Ohio Native, Stipe Miocic to Fight Fabricio Werdum for UFC Heavyweight Title

UFC officials announced on Sunday that back injury has forced former heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez to pull out of a planned Feb. 6 match with current champ Fabricio Werdum, and Stipe Miocic has been called upon as a short-notice replacement.

Miocic, a graduate of Eastlake North High School, trains in Independence and lives and works as a firefighter and paramedic in Valley View. He wrestled and played baseball at Cleveland State University.

Gotta grab opportunity when it comes knocking. #LetsGo

— Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocicufc) January 24, 2016

Werdum (20-5-1 MMA, 8-2 UFC) now seeks his first defense of the UFC unified heavyweight title.

Miocic (14-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) picked up a 54-second win over Andrei Arlovski at UFC 195, just three weeks ago.