In what was suppose to be the second pay-per-view and third championship fight of the 2016 UFC season, heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum has ALSO withdrawn from UFC 196 just one day after number one contender and two-time heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez stepped out due to a back injury.

In an interview Monday with MMAFighting.com, Werdum said, "I was already injured," when referencing Velasquez's announcement. "I have a foot injury, and haven’t been able to throw kicks in training for two weeks. I would still fight Cain because I was injured the last time, but I also hurt my back last Friday. I went to the doctor, tried to continue training, but couldn’t spar as I should spar."

Additionally, the Brazilian made a fantastic point in the conversation as he commented, "It took me a long time to get here and win this belt, be the champion, to throw everything away because I’m not 100 percent. I have to think about everything now, I can’t think and act like I did when I was 20. It’s not like that anymore. Everything changed. I’m 38 now, and I feel I’m at the best moment of my career, and I can’t risk my career because of pride."

Following Velasquez's departure from the six-fight main card on Sunday, Stipe Miocic, who dominated and knocked out third ranked contender Andrei Arlovski in 54 seconds at UFC 195, committed and stepped in for the title shot, he has coveted for so long, despite fighting on what would be 35 days rest.

So with Velasquez and Werdum out, where does that leave us?

Well, for starters the top two fighters in the heavyweight division are out due to injury, which is never good, and an interim title is really unnecessary considering second ranked Miocic dominated the fighter only one spot lower than him on January 2. 

Furthermore, and looking at a broader view, UFC 196 is in serious jeopardy. 

Think about it, this was going to be a highly anticipated immediate rematch between two amazing athletes. The point? How is this card, that now features Johny Hendricks versus Stephen Thompson as the temporary main event, going to draw an audience?! Seriously, it is not like Hendricks deserves the next title shot in the welterweight division considering Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit could have an immediate rematch in the works due to their legendary fifth round and somewhat controversial split decision. And that isn't even considering Tyron Woodley, who is clearly ahead of Hendricks when it comes to title consideration!

Moreover and from a replacement standpoint, this journalist supposes, but is no way in favor of Alistair Overeem getting thrown into the main event with Miocic as neither fighter deserves to risk a plunge in the rankings on short rest (Overeem fought on December 19).

All in all, this predicament Dana White and the UFC now finds themselves in, less than two weeks from when the octagon will make its way to Las Vegas, could be a huge letdown in comparison to the spectacular cards and main events, we have been blessed to watch in 2016 thus far.

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About the author
Peyton Wesner
Editor, that has loved and watched sports. He enjoys traveling the country to watch division one college basketball and professional baseball, basketball, and football. In addition, Peyton is a huge enthusiast of Missouri Valley Conference basketball and International League (Triple-A) baseball as he focuses about these topics and many more on his sports blog Courtside with PW at http://courtsidewpw.blogspot.com/?m=1. You can contact him through his email, [email protected], or his twitter, @courtsidewpw.