Cain Velasquez, Fabricio Werdum coach 'TUF: Latin America,' fight in November
As expected, UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez (13-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC) will next defend his belt against Brazilian submission master Fabricio Werdum (18-5-1 MMA, 6-2 UFC), but first the two have a little television to make.
UFC officials today announced that Velasquez and Werdum will serve as opposing coaches on the debut season of “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America†in advance of their championship bout, which will headline UFC 180 on Nov. 15 at Arena Mexico in Mexico City.
Tickets for the event are expected to go on sale in late August.
The announcement marks the UFC’s long-awaited debut in Mexico, which UFC President Dana White has long identified as a key target in the promotion’s global expansion. White revealed the details at a Tuesday press conference in Mexico City. Velasquez and Werdum were also on hand, as were Jose Baston and Miguel Angel Fox Muller, two executives from the UFC’s television partner in Mexico, Televisa.
The tournament finals from “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America,†which will feature featherweight and bantamweight competitors, will also take place at UFC 180. No other bouts are rumored at this time, but White suggested the company will look to bring high-profile fights to the card.
Velasquez, who was born in the U.S. to parents who immigrated from Mexico, fought most recently in October, when he scored a fifth-round TKO win over Junior dos Santos. He’s since been sidelined with an injured shoulder.
Velasquez now returns against Werdum, who earned his shot at the belt with a convincing decision win over Travis Browne earlier this month. It was Werdum’s fourth-straight victory, and he improved to 7-1 in his past eight fights.
UFC officials previously announced “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America†will film in Las Vegas. Filming is expected to begin the week of May 12, with the series debuting the week of August 18.
