Report: UFC has a frontrunner to face Luke Rockhold for middleweight title

On Tuesday, news broke that former middleweight champion Chris Weidman was forced to pull out of his immediate title fight rematch with champion Luke Rockhold, which was scheduled for UFC 199.

The UFC has been busy finding a replacement for Weidman. According to MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani, the frontrunner to replace Weidman is Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, who is coming off a first round TKO win over Vitor Belfort this past weekend at UFC 198.

Don't expect any news on the 199 main event tonight. Jacare will know if he's cleared tomorrow & they're ok with waiting. He's frontrunner.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) May 18, 2016

Although it was a quick fight for “Jacare” at UFC 198, he did mention to UFC commentator John Gooden that his knee may have suffered an injury in the bout with Belfort.

In Jacare's post-fight intv with @JohnGoodenUK, he said his knee was banged up. That's something to keep in mind.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) May 17, 2016

Who do you want to see step in to face Luke Rockhold at UFC 199 on June 4? Get your vote in at the BJPENN.COM poll here.