As first reported by Brazil’s Combate, and confirmed by multiple sources, UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic will defend his title at UFC 211 on May 13 in Dallas, Texas in a rematch with Junior dos Santos.
Miocic lost a unanimous decision to JDS at UFC on FOX 13 on December 13, 2014 in the Fight of the Night. The Brazilian was at the time coming off a failed title shot at then champion Cain Velasquez at UFC 166 on October 19, 2013. JDS has fought just twice since the loss to Miocic, a KO loss to Alistair Overeem in his only fight in 2015, and a decision win over Ben Rothwell Decision at UFC Fight Night 86 on April 10, 2016.
By comparison, Miocic has been on a tear since. The Croatian American rebounded with a late TKO of Mark Hunt. Then in 2016 he turned it on, TKOing Andrei Arlovski in the Fight of the Night, KOing Fabrício Werdum and taking his belt in a performance of the night, and then defending the title successfully against Alistair Overeem in the Fight of the Night.
Notoriously, no heavyweight champion has ever successfully defended the title more than twice. If Miocic beats JDS, breaking that record is within reach.
