Two of the UFC’s fastest rising heavyweight contenders will clash at the company’s annual year end pay-per-view, with the winner likely being fast tracked to a title shot.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Travis Browne takes on former UFC heavyweight champ Josh Barnett at UFC 168, set for December 28 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Browne is riding a two-fight win streak, scoring brutal first round knockouts over Gabriel Gonzaga and Alistair Overeem.

The Greg Jackson’s MMA fighter suffered his one and only career loss at UFC on FX 5 in October of last year, getting knocked out by Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva.

However, it’s worth noting that Browne tore his left hamstring early in the bout and could barely stand afterwards.

His upcoming opponent, Barnett, has also rattled off back-to-back finishes, scoring a controversial knockout over a fellow titleholder in Frank Mir at UFC 164 late last month.

“The Warmaster” has won 10 of his past 11 fights, still looking like a top contender at 35-years-old, with his only loss coming at the hands of Daniel Cormier back in May 2012.

Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez meets Junior dos Santos for the third time at UFC 166 next month, with no clear cut challenger waiting in the wings, through Fabricio Werdum has expressed his intent to sit out until he gets a title shot.

With that in mind, a decisive win from either Browne or Barnett could get them a spot at the front of the line in the UFC’s heavyweight division.

Will Browne’s incredible chin and versatile striking game be enough to overwhelm Barnett or will the Warmaster aggression and superb submissions be the difference maker in the pivotal heavyweight clash?