The circus surrounding February 6, 2016’s UFC 196 from Las Vegas has continued. Yesterday (January 24, 2016) it was announced that former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez would be forced out of his scheduled main event rematch with current champion Fabricio Werdum due to a back injury. It was then quickly made clear that No. 2-ranked
The circus surrounding February 6, 2016’s UFC 196 from Las Vegas has continued.
Yesterday (January 24, 2016) it was announced that former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez would be forced out of his scheduled main event rematch with current champion Fabricio Werdum due to a back injury.
It was then quickly made clear that No. 2-ranked Stipe Miocic would step up on short notice to take on “Vai Cavalo” for the undisputed world title. Now, however, it appears as if the title won’t be up for grabs at all.
MMAFighting.comhas reported that Werdum will also be pulling out of UFC 196 due to an undisclosed injury.
The nature of the Brazilian’s injury is currently unknown, and the UFC has yet to comment on the situation, but it appears as if they may have some trouble on their hands.
The scheduled co-main event features a welterweight bout between former champ Johny Hendricks and Stephen Thompson, not exactly a pay-per-view (PPV) headliner.
(Hello ER my old friend, I’ve come to lie with you again…)
You might not know this about Cain Velasquez, but the former heavyweight champion is what some would call “prone to injury.” In fact, Velasquez has spent far more time on the shelf during his tenure with the UFC than he has been fighting, competing just 6 times (and against a grand total of 3 different opponents) dating back to the night he first lost his belt to Junior Dos Santos in 2010.
So when it was first announced that Velasquez would inexplicably be receiving an immediate rematch against Fabricio Werdum following his one-sided defeat at UFC 188, the booking was met with a certain amount of trepidation. Rightfully so, it would seem, as today brings the news that Velasquez has has been forced to withdraw from UFC 196 just two weeks out with a back injury.
(Hello ER my old friend, I’ve come to lie with you again…)
You might not know this about Cain Velasquez, but the former heavyweight champion is what some would call “prone to injury.” In fact, Velasquez has spent far more time on the shelf during his tenure with the UFC than he has been fighting, competing just 6 times (and against a grand total of 3 different opponents) dating back to the night he first lost his belt to Junior Dos Santos in 2010.
So when it was first announced that Velasquez would inexplicably be receiving an immediate rematch against Fabricio Werdum following his one-sided defeat at UFC 188, the booking was met with a certain amount of trepidation. Rightfully so, it would seem, as today brings the news that Velasquez has has been forced to withdraw from UFC 196 just two weeks out with a back injury.
Details after the jump.
The saddening but all too familiar news was broke on Sunday evening via Dana White’s Instagram. Stepping in as a short notice replacement against Werdum will be Stipe Miocic, who is currently riding back-to-back wins over Mark Hunt and Andrei Arlovski and has been angling for a title fight for some time now, only to be consistently rebuked by the UFC for lacking the “popularity” necessary for a title contender. Of course, name value doesn’t mean sh*t when you can’t actually make it to fight night, so let’s hope that Stipe can make his name off of this fight whether in victory or defeat.
Velasquez, who has already undergone surgeries for torn meniscus in his knee and a torn rotator cuff (twice), took to Facebook to apologize to Werdum, writing:
I’m sure you’ve heard the news that I won’t be able to fight at UFC 196. I can’t begin to tell you how disappointed I am and how I feel I’m letting you all down. I’ve heard and read all of your messages of support since my last fight and during this camp and for that I thank you.
Training camp has been difficult for the last few weeks, but sometimes no matter how much the heart and mind want to fight through an injury, healing has its own timeline. We thought we’d get through it, but we had to face the truth that it wasn’t going to be OK in time to fight. All of us fighters have all fought injured at one time or another, but I can’t ignore this injury, as my doctor has indicated that not addressing the problems with my sciatic nerve could have longer-term consequences.
My fans deserve to see me compete as close to 100% as possible. I’m committed to giving them that. I’m not going to let my fans down, and I want to make sure I do the right things to ensure a long career.
Fabricio, I hope that you accept my sincere apology. I understand how you may think this is an excuse. From one professional to another, I can tell you I was committed and looking forward to competing with you again. I greatly respect you as a fighter and man, and we will meet soon.
I will get this taken care of as soon as possible. I will heal and will come back and show you the Cain Velasquez you all deserve to see.
Sincerely, Cain
It’s a real shame that the majority of Cain’s athletic prime has been spent healing on the sidelines, but maybe this latest injury might be his body’s way of telling him when enough is enough. He hasn’t seemed to heed the message yet, but then again, when looking at the litany of setbacks that Dominick Cruz suffered on his way to reclaiming the bantamweight title, it’s hard to fault him for being stubborn.
There has been no timetable set for Velasquez’s return.
UFC 196 took a big hit last night when it was revealed that former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez got injured. Read his reaction to the situation here… For fans of the Fabricio Werdum vs. Cain Velasquez rematch at UFC 196, last night was not a pleasant one. The ex-champion ‘CV’ was injured yet again, this
UFC 196 took a big hit last night when it was revealed that former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez got injured. Read his reaction to the situation here…
For fans of the Fabricio Werdum vs. Cain Velasquez rematch at UFC 196, last night was not a pleasant one. The ex-champion ‘CV’ was injured yet again, this time it’s his back that prevents him from competing in his sixth UFC title fight. It’s also the second time he’s had to pull out of a fight against ‘Vai Cavalo,’ having dropped out of the UFC 180 main event in late 2014, similarly on two weeks notice.
This is nothing new to Velasuqez unfortunately, as he’s fought only six times in as many years, having undergone major surgery for a shoulder injury after his UFC 166 win over Junior dos Santos. The heavyweight division is once again flailing, and along with Ronda Rousey’s media coverage in the last two days, it’s starting to feel like 2014 all over again.
Clearly disappointed, Velasquez spoke to his fans on Facebook to give a statement to Fabricio Werdum. Check it out:
“Training camp has been difficult for the last few weeks, but sometimes no matter how much the heart and mind want to fight through an injury, healing has its own timeline. We thought we’d get through it, but we had to face the truth that it wasn’t going to be OK in time to fight,” Velasquez writes. “All of us fighters have all fought injured at one time or another, but I can’t ignore this injury, as my doctor has indicated that not addressing the problems with my sciatic nerve could have longer-term consequences.
“Fabricio, I hope that you accept my sincere apology. I understand how you may think this is an excuse. From one professional to another, I can tell you I was committed and looking forward to competing with you again. I greatly respect you as a fighter and man, and we will meet soon.”
So the rematch of the title fight that left so many unanswered questions at UFC 188 will have to wait a little longer. After coming in to their first fight highly unprepared for the altitude in Mexico, Velasquez clearly wants to be at his best for the second fight, but will he walk straight back to a title shot from this latest injury?
Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has suffered yet another career hindering injury, and can no longer fight at UFC 196… It’s not looking good for the ex-heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez. The AKA (American Kickboxing Academy) wrestler and former UFC king has not managed to hold together a steady UFC run since 2010, after a
Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has suffered yet another career hindering injury, and can no longer fight at UFC 196…
It’s not looking good for the ex-heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez. The AKA (American Kickboxing Academy) wrestler and former UFC king has not managed to hold together a steady UFC run since 2010, after a number of injuries and surgeries have seen him fight less than once a year on average. His rematch with Fabricio Werdum at UFC 196 would’ve given the proud Mexican a shot at a rare third stint as UFC champion, but alas the bad news has been confirmed by UFC president Dana White on Twitter.
Cain Velasquez can no longer compete, and has dropped out of the running for UFC 196.
Cain Velasquez is out with a back injury. Stipe vs Werdum for the heavyweight championship February 6th. pic.twitter.com/vPRJYJvOjL
Of course the UFC had little option but to implant Stipe Miocic in Velasquez’s place after his impressive knockout of Andrei Arlovski at UFC 195. The big Croatian also scared the living daylights out of Dana White by screaming at the UFC president who sat octagon side as he dispatched ‘The Pitbull.’ In Fabricio Werdum though, Miocic faces a complete fighter who has only just started to realise his full potential.
Although the loss of Velasquez will not help the already under hyped UFC 196 card, it’s a feel good story for Stipe and his fans who felt he should have been fighting ‘Vai Cavalo’ next anyway. So with Cain Velasquez injured, again, it’s time to start looking, again, at his training methods. AKA’s ‘stone age’ training and brutal sparring sessions have been a hot topic in the past, but we’re yet to hear exactly how Cain injured his back, although it’s likely to come out sooner rather than later.
Stay tuned to LowKick MMA for more updates as they come in.
The UFC heavyweight division is notoriously the most unpredictable landscape in all of mixed martial arts (MMA). Having never possessed a champion that has defended the title more than twice, the divisional throne is an unforgiving revolving door. Turbulent in nature, the roster is subject to vast shifts in power considering knockout finishes are more
The UFC heavyweight division is notoriously the most unpredictable landscape in all of mixed martial arts (MMA).
Having never possessed a champion that has defended the title more than twice, the divisional throne is an unforgiving revolving door. Turbulent in nature, the roster is subject to vast shifts in power considering knockout finishes are more abundant when compared any other faction.
In today’s UFC heavyweight division, champion Fabricio Werdum and former kingpin Cain Velasquez reign supreme. Werdum has gone 6-0 since his return to the promotion, while Velasquez has only lost to the Brazilian since 2011.
While both fighters should help produce a worthy reboot at UFC 196 on Feb. 6 for the heavyweight strap, they may not be the best candidates to lead the division moving forward. With bigger opportunities, more intriguing matchups, and rising talent, there are simply other means.
Here are four reasons why the UFC heavyweight class will benefit from moving on from Werdum and Velasquez’s pairing.
UFC officials recently finalized the entire lineup for UFC 196. The event goes down in Las Vegas on February 6th, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The main card aids on PPV at 10 PM ET, with prelims on FOX Sports 1 at 8 PM ET, and UFC Fight Pass at 9 PM ET.
The event will be headlined by Fabricio Werdum (20-5-1) vs. Cain Velasquez (13-2), and Johny Hendricks (17-3) vs. Stephen Thompson (11-1). We will have live round-by-round coverage of the entire main card right here on MMANews.com.
Here is the final card for UFC 196:
Main Card: (Pay-per-view – 10 PM ET/7 PM PT)
Fabricio Werdum (20-5-1) vs. Cain Velasquez (13-2)
Johny Hendricks (17-3) vs. Stephen Thompson (11-1)
Roy Nelson (21-12) vs. Jared Rosholt (14-2)
Ovince Saint Preux (18-7) vs. Rafael Cavalcante (12-6, 1NC)
UFC officials recently finalized the entire lineup for UFC 196. The event goes down in Las Vegas on February 6th, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The main card aids on PPV at 10 PM ET, with prelims on FOX Sports 1 at 8 PM ET, and UFC Fight Pass at 9 PM ET.
The event will be headlined by Fabricio Werdum (20-5-1) vs. Cain Velasquez (13-2), and Johny Hendricks (17-3) vs. Stephen Thompson (11-1). We will have live round-by-round coverage of the entire main card right here on MMANews.com.
Here is the final card for UFC 196:
Main Card: (Pay-per-view – 10 PM ET/7 PM PT)
Fabricio Werdum (20-5-1) vs. Cain Velasquez (13-2)
Johny Hendricks (17-3) vs. Stephen Thompson (11-1)
Roy Nelson (21-12) vs. Jared Rosholt (14-2)
Ovince Saint Preux (18-7) vs. Rafael Cavalcante (12-6, 1NC)
