The UFC 180 card scheduled for Mexico City on November 15th has lost it’s main event and it’s big star as Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez has pulled out of the bout due to an apparent knee injury. The main event will now be for an interim title, and will feature Fabrizio Werdum taking on Mark Hunt, who is stepping up on short notice.
For the UFC, it is a big blow, as they were counting on Velasquez, who is of Mexican descent, to spearhead a promotional push in Mexico. What is more, it has already been a year since we last saw Velasquez compete, and he has now suffered his third or fourth fight postponing injury, again raising concerns that the champion is too injury prone. The UFC seems to understand that as well, as they have not issued interim titles in other similar circumstances (see Lightweights) but they have here.
Werdum will be shifting from an underdog the title fight against Velasquez to what will be a solid favorite in a fight against Hunt. Werdum has not been extremely active, but in each appearance he has impressed and shown facets of his game that are beyond just his Jiu Jitsu base. He is an intelligent fighter who fights to a game plan, though he has become enamored with his striking and he has used it effectively.
Hunt would be content if Werdum does decide to try to hash things out on the feet first before going for a take down, as Hunt will be at a massive disadvantage should he get taken down and wind up on his back. From there, Werdum is probably good enough, or at least he should be, to finish the fight with a sub and not ride out the points win. On the feet, Hunt is a bludgeoning striker and he will need to use his hands to win the fight. It will be a good fight, kudos to Hunt for stepping up on basically three weeks notice.
FOr Velasquez, it is an alarming situation. There are no real specifics about the injury out there, but the fact that the fight was not bumped and postponed and that the UFC initiated an interim title means that this could very well be a worse case scenario (a bad injury with long recovery time) for Velasquez. How do you think Junior Dos Santos feels right about now?
