Fans can finally breathe again, as Cain Velasquez‘s head coach denied rumors that the former champion suffered a broken hand, leaving his anticipated rematch with Junior dos Santos still on target for UFC 152.
The head coach of American Kickboxing Academy shot down the reports that Velasquez would be unable to return in September and confirms he is already sparring in the San Jose-based training facility.
“No truth,” Mendez told TheScore.com.
Cain told the doc after his fight that his front knuckle was bruised and all they did was give him a slip that he needed an X-ray before being cleared. Standard commission practice is all that happened and they gave him a six-month suspension until he has his X-ray to clear him. He has no injuries other than the bruise and even sparred on Monday.
Earlier reports suggested otherwise, and fans were left wondering what would become of the new main event, scheduled for September 22 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
UFC president Dana White already confirmed a co-main event between Rory MacDonald and B.J. Penn is set to be on the card, and he also hopes to put Velasquez and dos Santos in the headliner, barring any injuries.
Mendez is confident that Velasquez can return to the Octagon in September, and he expects the rematch to end with different outcome.
“You can count on the rematch being different,” he said.
With the latest string of injuries tampering with UFC events these days, the company cannot afford to lose a marquee matchup featuring two of the heavyweight division’s top draws. This card will be promoted to a great extent, and considering the magnitude of the matchup, it makes sense for it to be held in one of the UFC’s biggest markets.
Fans may just get their wish to see one of the biggest fights of the year go ahead as planned, and that is a huge deal for the UFC.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com