Despite taking a massive beating, tapping out to Fabricio Werdum and losing his UFC heavyweight title in June, Cain Velasquez has been granted an immediate rematch.
UFC president Dana White confirmed to UFC Tonight that Werdum-Velasquez 2 will take place at a future UFC event with the date and location yet to be determined.
Werdum upset Velasquez in the main event at UFC 188 in Mexico City. The Brazilian battered the Mexican-American on the feet and locked in a fight-ending guillotine choke midway through the third round. Velasquez, known for his tremendous cardio, hadn’t competed in 602 days due to various injuries. He appeared to be impacted by the high altitude as he uncharacteristically fatigued during the fight.
“I was wrong, maybe I should have come earlier, I know that now, but Fabricio was the best tonight, there s no excuse,” Velasquez, who arrived in the Mexico City two weeks prior to the event, said after the fight. “He fought well, with great technique, he’s a good fighter. I need to get back to training, keep the hunger and get ready for the next one.”
Velasquez (13-2) was delivered such a clobbering by Werdum many thought the UFC would go in a different direction. With former champion Andrei Arlovski – who holds a win over the current champ – and rising contenders Stipe Miocic and Ben Rothwell all coming off impressive wins, it was believed by some that one of them would get the first shot at Werdum’s undisputed title.
However, the UFC paired Arlovski with Frank Mir and they are targeting a Miocic vs. Rothwell bout for an Oct. 24 Fight Night event in Ireland. That left Velasquez as the only other viable option.
Werdum (20–5–1) has won six consecutive fights since returning to the UFC in 2012, but he has a long road ahead of him if he wishes to remain champion going forward. To date, no fighter has successfully defended the UFC heavyweight belt three consecutive times.
