Back in June of 2015, Fabricio Werdum squared off against Cain Velasquez in Mexico City for the undisputed heavyweight title. Now the pair are set to square off again, this time as part of the UFC 207 main card.
Things are a little different this time around. Whereas both men entered the first battle with a claim on a championship title, both now stand as aspiring contenders, fighting to recapture their lost status.
After defeating Velasquez last year, Werdum quickly surrendered his title to Stipe Miocic. He then managed to bounce back by outclassing Travis Browne, setting himself up for a rematch with Velasquez.
Since suffering that surprising loss to Werdum, Velasquez took his turn to beat up Browne and now finds himself staring at a chance for redemption. Werdum is the only man holding an unavenged loss over Velasquez, so the contest offers him the chance to even the score.
But the import of the bout stretches beyond Velasquez’s redemption narrative. Both he and Werdum stand among the best fighters in a shallow heavyweight division, making the bout an important moment for determining the division’s next title contender.
In anticipation of the December 30 contest, Bleacher Report looks at how Werdum and Velasquez match up, examining where each fighter finds an advantage and who is more likely to pull out the victory.