Cleveland’s own Stipe Miocic brought a championship to his hometown this week after knocking out Fabricio Werdum at UFC 198, and now he might be bringing a UFC event to the city for the first time as well.
According to a report from UFC Tonight on Fox Sports 1, the UFC is considering bringing a pay-per-view event to Cleveland with Miocic’s first defense of the Heavyweight Championship as soon as September.
It would be their first trip to Cleveland, though their sixth trip to the state of Ohio overall. The most recent came back in 2014, when they brought UFC Fight Night 40 to Cincinnati. They’ve hit that city twice, with three more events coming to Columbus over the years.
Penick’s Analysis: It’s absolutely the right move. Given the reaction he’s gotten thus far since UFC 198, Cleveland would embrace a Miocic-headlined event, and with cards needed in September and October to lead into the UFC’s New York debut this is a perfect spot for one of them. Whether it’s against Alistair Overeem or someone else, Miocic should get the chance to headline in Cleveland if the UFC can put it together.
[Photo (c) Jason Silva via USA Today Sports]
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Cleveland is cursed. Somehow this is all going to end horribly for their fans.