Junior dos Santos and Cain Velasquez have distanced themselves from the balance of the UFC Heavyweight division, but after two consecutive, dominant wins by Velasquez, it is time for a new challenger to emerge.
According to UFC President Dana White, that challenger will likely be Fabricio Werdum.
Though he did not outright confirm the fight, White declared Werdum the most likely–and most sensible–challenger in a discussion after UFC 166.
Since suffering a quick knockout loss to Dos Santos, Werdum has ascended the heavyweight ladder. His run, which includeds wins over Antonio Silva, Fedor Emelianenko, Roy Nelson and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, is marred only by a 2011 decision loss to Alistair Overeem.
As heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez just fought in Saturday’s main event with Junior Dos Santos, it is far too early to confirm a time and place for a Cain-Werdum showdown.