Stipe Miocic wanted a title shot and, technically, he had it until the champion conspicuously pulled out due to injury.
Miocic ended up being named to replace an injured Cain Velasquez against Fabricio Werdum for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 196 which will take place next month; but a recent turn of events may have snuffed all hopes of the Croatian getting a shot at the title.
At the start of 2016, Miocic made a case for himself when he disposed Andrei Arlovski at UFC 195. He did the trick in 54 seconds of the opening round and thereafter barked at UFC President Dana White of a title shot, according to Fox Sports.
White eventually agreed to it, although many felt that it would happen after the originally scheduled rematch between Werdum and Velasquez at UFC 196.
Velasquez was forced to withdraw due to a back injury, paving the way for Miocic. The Croatian was, apparently, overjoyed with the bit only to be killed by another announcement that Werdum was pulling out as well due to a foot and back injury.
With the sudden withdrawal, UFC 195 suddenly loses a main event, but Miocic's camp believes there is a conspiracy brewing.
Miocic's manager, Greg Kalikas, found Werdum's sudden pullout a bit fishy. This led him to question the severity of Werdum's injury and could not help but say that the Brazilian champion may be opting out because he didn't like the matchup, according to MMA Junkie.
A possible option would be to see Miocic figure in an interim title fight, but Kalikas believes that such may not remedy the expectations of his boy.
With Velasquez and Werdum out, Miocic ends up being on the main event with a challenger yet to be named. Josh Barnett hinted that he wouldn't mind facing Miocic at UFC 196, although the last say will still be at the hands of the UFC.
