According to reports, the UFC is targeting a heavyweight contest between former champion Cain Velasquez and Travis Browne for UFC 200 in July. Ariel Helwani initially reported the rumor on Wednesday’s edition of UFC Tonight.

Browne (18-3) is coming off a controversial third round TKO over Matt Mitrione in December. Prior to this win fans witnessed ‘Happa’ suffer a violent first round TKO loss to former teammate Andrei Arlovski at UFC 187 in May. This Browne’s first stoppage loss since 2012. Both men earned Fight of the Night for their performance.

Velasquez (13-2) was originally scheduled to challenge reigning champion Fabricio Werdum for the heavyweight belt before an injured back forced him to pull out just weeks before the event in February.

Velasquez previously dropped his title to Werdum when the towering Brazilian submitted him early in the second round of their UFC 188 title fight in June. This setback marked his first appearance inside the Octagon since decimating long time rival Junior dos Santos with a violent fifth round TKO at UFC 166 in October 2013.

The UFC has yet to confirm the matchup.

 

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José began his career as a mixed martial arts journalist while still enrolled at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Arizona State University. Since graduating in May 2013, he has attended dozens of high profile UFC fight cards as a credentialed member of the media, providing live cage side coverage through his articles and videos. His work has appeared on UFC.com, ArizonaSports.com and AZCentral. He is also currently one of the main contributors on Power MMA Show at Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, one of the first all MMA radio shows on a major radio station.