UFC 168

Barnett and Browne to meet at UFC 168

ESPN staff

September 18, 2013

A high-profile heavyweight bout between Josh Barnett and Travis Browne is set to take place at UFC 168 on December 28 in Las Vegas.

The Las Vegas Review Journal reported the pay-per-view event will be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Both Barnett and Browne are ranked in the top 10 in the division, Nos. 5 and 6, respectively, according to ESPN.com.

Barnett (33-6) is coming off a dominant first-round TKO win against Frank Mir at UFC 164 last month. He boasts a 10-1 record in his last 11 fights. A 16-year veteran of martial arts, his appearance at UFC 164 marked his first in the UFC since 2002. He is a former heavyweight champion within the promotion. He won the heavyweight belt at UFC 36 in a TKO win over Randy Couture.

Browne (15-1-1) is looking to secure his first UFC title opportunity. The 31-year-old has posted back-to-back first-round stoppages, the most recent coming against Alistair Overeem via a highlight reel front kick. A member of Jackson's Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Albuquerque, N.M., Browne's only loss came against Antonio Silva after he suffered a leg injury in the first round.

A middleweight title fight between Chris Weidman and Anderson Silva is scheduled to headline UFC 168.

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