Neither fighter is currently ranked at heavyweight on the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings. Beltran has won three fights in the UFC, but has lost to both Pat Barry and Matt Mitrione and will need at least a couple of big wins before he'd be considered for the list. This heavyweight UFC 136 fight will be on the preliminary card, which will be streamed live on Facebook. The Facebook stream begins at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.
How do these two stack up?
Beltran: 29 years old | 6'1" | 75" reach
Miocic: 29 years old | 6'4" | Unknown reach
What have these two done recently?
Beltran: W - Aaron Rosa (TKO) | L - Pat Barry (UD) | L - Matt Mitrione (UD)
Miocic: W - Bobby Brents (SUB) | W - William Penn (TKO) | W - Gregory Maynard (TKO)
How did these two get here?
Joey "The Mexicutioner" Beltran entered the UFC as a very-late replacement for Mustapha Al-Turk against Rolles Gracie at UFC 109. Most fans expected Beltran to be quickly submitted, but Rolles gassed horribly and Beltran picked up a second round TKO win. Beating a Gracie gave him a fair amount of recognition, and he continued on from there with a decision victory over Tim Hague at UFC 113. He hit a rough patch, dropping two straight decisions to Matt Mitrione and Pat Barry, but showed a tremendous amount of toughness and heart and split a fight of the night bonus with Mitrione. That heart was on display again at UFC 131 where he went to war with Aaron Rosa and eventually finished him via TKO in the third round.
Stipe Miocic was BE's number 5 heavyweight prospect back in April, and has continued his progression nicely since then. The NCAA Division 1 wrestler and Golden Gloves boxer has won all six of his bouts so far, with 5 coming by KO and one by submission from leg kicks. He is definitely one of the UFC's few legit prospects at heavyweight and his debut against such a tough guy in Beltran should be very interesting.
Why should you care?
A tough-as-nails brawler that's nearly impossible to finish versus a young, athletic boxer-wrestler that's never gone the distance in a fight. I like the matchup, and you should too.
You can catch more UFC 136 preview content from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
UFC 136 Judo Chop: The Striking of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 136 Preview - Melvin Guillard Gunning for Knockout Bonus - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136: Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 136 Video - Bruce Buffer: 'You Can't Announce the Way I Announce If You're Not Into It' - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Live Weigh-In Video and Results - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136 Video: Frankie Edgar Says Belt Proves He Belongs at Lightweight - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Bloody Elbow Staff Predictions
UFC 136 Preview: Melvin Guillard Says Joe Lauzon Folds Under Pressure - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136: Chael Sonnen Denies Gameplanning for Brian Stann - Mike Fagan
UFC 136: Frankie Edgar Talks Gray Maynard, Jose Aldo - Mike Fagan
UFC 136: Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon Dissection - Dallas Winston
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 87: UFC 136 Preview
UFC 136: Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 136: Time Aplenty for Chael Sonnen Despite Competition for Contention - Leland Roling
UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 136: Spike TV Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 136: Did Promotion Need More Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann? - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136: Jose Aldo's Second Chance to Destroy Foolish Assumptions - Leland Roling
UFC 136: A Running Diary of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard II - Mike Fagan
UFC 136 Pre-Fight Press Conference Video and Updates - Tim Burke
UFC State of the Union: UFC 136 and the Lightweight Division - Fraser Coffeen
Countdown to UFC 136 Video
UFC 136: Melvin Guillard's Continuing Quest for a Title Shot - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136 Preview: Looking Back at Edgar vs. Maynard 2 Highlights and Reaction - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136: Facebook Undercard Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 136: Dana White Video Blog, Day 1