Fabricio Werdum vs. Stipe Miocic to headline UFC 198 in Brazil

UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum will defend his title on May 14 against Stipe Miocic in his home country of Brazil at UFC 198.

Brazilian outlet Combate initially reported the Werdum-Miocic bout moving to UFC 198.

Originally set to be a UFC Fight Night card headlined by a middleweight bout between Vitor Belfort and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, the addition of the heavyweight title bout has shifted the event, which takes place at Arena da Baixada football stadium in Curitiba, Parana, to a pay per view.

Miocic was initially booked as a replacement to face Werdum at UFC 196 when Cain Velasquez went down with injury. But shortly after Miocic was announced as the opponent, Werdum also pulled out of the fight and cited his own injuries. UFC 196 was changed to UFC Fight Night with co-headliners Johny Hendricks and Stephen Thompson moved to the top of the card and the numbered pay per views would be shuffled.

The newly minted UFC 198 will mark the UFC’s first time hosting an event in Curitiba and will feature several prominent Brazilian fighters. In addition to the Belfort vs. Jaracre showdown, the card also features a welterweight title fight between Demian Maia and Matt Brown, a middleweight bout that finds Thiago Santos taking on Nate Marquardt as well as a light heavyweight scrap between Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Patrick Cummins.