The UFC’s heavyweight division is jumbled at the top, which explains why instead of naming an unworthy #1 contender they decided to hand Cain Velasquez an immediate title rematch against champion Fabricio Werdum.
Until today talks of when the title bout were relatively quiet but UFC Tonight’s Ariel Helwani let it be known that the UFC is in talks of having the fight headline UFC 196 instead of waiting for UFC 197, which is tentatively planned for an outdoor location in Brazil.
Many fans expected for Velasquez to reclaim his title at UFC 188 but the longtime champ was outclassed by Werdum for 3 rounds before being submitted by triangle choke. It was just the latest underdog win of Werdum’s long career and proved that he’s one of the most complete fighters in MMA.
The altitude in Mexico was a huge topic of conversation after the fight because Cain had long been considered one of the most well-conditioned athletes in the UFC and he was left completely gassed by the second round. Having the bout in Las Vegas will surely remove any excuses that surround that first bout and should determine who’s the best heavyweight fighter in the world of MMA.