Preview: UFC 198 ‘Werdum vs. Miocic’

Fabricio Werdum can strengthen his position as the world’s top heavyweight by successfully defending the Ultimate Fighting Championship title for the first time. In his first appearance since dethroning Cain Velasquez in June, Werdum will put his championship on the line against Stipe Miocic in the UFC 198 main event on Saturday at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil. Meanwhile, the co-headliner shines the spotlight on two of the sport’s premier middleweights, as Ronaldo Souza takes on Vitor Belfort at 185 pounds. The rest of the main card features the long-awaited promotional debut of reigning Invicta Fighting Championships titleholder Cristiane Justino opposite Leslie Smith and a pivotal light heavyweight clash pairing “The Ultimate Fighter” winner Corey Anderson with former champion Mauricio Rua. Let us take a look at each UFC 198 “Werdum vs. Miocic” matchup, with analysis and picks:UFC Heavyweight Championship Fabricio Werdum (20-5-1) vs Stipe Miocic (14-2)THE MATCHUP: The heavyweight belt is on the line in the UFC 198 main event, and it will be the first time since December 2012 that Cain Velasquez was not involved in its defense. Instead, Werdum will attempt to guard the championship for the first time since wrenching it from Velasquez’s grasp at UFC 188. Opposite the champion is Miocic, a wrestle-boxer not wholly dissimilar to Velasquez but with a few unique tricks up the sleeves of his fire suit. They say that offense wins fights and defense wins championships. In Werdum’s mind, however, offense is the best defense a man could ask for. When Werdum fought Velasquez in June, he did not evade the swarming champion’s first rush so much …

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