Cain Velasquez Does Not Care If He Is Stripped of UFC Heavyweight Title
Cain Velasquez was watching outside the Octagon when Fabricio Werdum claimed the UFC interim heavyweight from Mark Hunt Saturday at UFC 180. The sidelined heavyweight champion was appreciative on how the two gladiators prepared for the fight with Mark Hunt effective early to prevent takedowns and reduce the fight to a stand-up fistfight up until he caught a devastating knee from Werdum.
News broke out last week that UFC President sent out a sort of ultimatum to the reigning champion saying that if the current champion gets sidelined until March 2015, he will be stripped of his belt. Velasquez who is arguably the best heavyweight fighter to grace the Octagon did not care much for White's sentiments and even suggested as much as that the UFC can go ahead and reclaim his belt, as long when he comes back healthy, the first match would be a title bout. If this happens, Werdum would be elevated to the heavyweight championship with Velasquez knocking on his door as soon as he gets the clean bill of health.
"It doesn't matter to me. I don't care," Velasquez relayed to Yahoo Sports on the possibility of being stripped of the belt. "As long as I fight, the next fight will be for a title and I'm happy with that. I don't really care of having that title."
Dating back to 2012, Velasquez has only figured in four matches and during his decorated career he has only lost once. If not for his troublesome knee, Velasquez could already be declared the undisputed best among heavyweights disposing handily of legendary names such as Brock Lesnar, Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva and Junior dos Santos. It was that same troublesome knee that cost him an immaculate record against dos Santos when he went against doctors and coaches' advice to rest the knee and forego the match with dos Santos. Yet, he has proven twice that he is head and shoulders above dos Santos on two separate rematch occasions.
This declaration of Velasquez that he does not care if the title is taken away from him only proves his faith in his ability to reclaim it right back from Werdum or whoever reigning champion as soon as he steps into the Octagon. Until Werdum faces Velasquez, interim or not, the injured champion shall still remain the best heavyweight out there.