Miocic given golden opportunity after KO win against Arlovski

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  • Stipe’s shot: Miocic celebrates.

    Stipe Miocic will get his shot at the heavyweight crown after he tore through Andrei Arlovski at the co-main event of UFC 195.

    It took just 54 seconds of the first round for Miocic to demolish the former heavyweight champion before he uncharacteristically barked at UFC president Dana White to give him his title chance.

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    It got the job done. White listened and confirmed in the postfight press conference he is indeed the No1 contender and will await the winner of the upcoming rematch between belt holder Fabricio Werdum and Cain Velasquez.

    “Who the hell was going to say no to him?” White said. “He was like a psycho. I wasn’t going to say no.”

    Alistair Overeem’s knockout of Junior dos Santos caught the public’s attention in 2015’s final card and with that fresh in the mind, Miocic needed to make a statement.

    It could not have been any bigger. Miocic sent the Belarusian, who came into the clash with four consecutive UFC victories, down to the canvas with two right-hand bombs early in the opening round. 

    He followed up with hard punches and referee Herb Dean waved off the bout, sparking the wild post-fight bark.

    “I have the best coaches in the world. They have all the confidence in me, I have confidence in them. Whoever it is, I don’t care,” said the full-time fireman. “I want my shot.”

    Elsewhere on the night, Brian Ortega extended his unbeaten streak in the featheweight division after coming back in the third to submit the unpredictable Diego Brandao.

    Ortega was comfortably two rounds down but once the opportunity to unleash his deadly Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ground game presented he didn’t let it go to waste, scoring a slick triangle choke submission.

    In another incredible comeback, Michael McDonald, who made his Octagon return after two-years out, escaped a choke from Masanori Kanehara to beautifully transition and submit his foe by rear naked choke in round two.

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