Trainer: Shoulder surgery still a possibility for champ Cain Velasquez
Another doctor’s visit should be the final word on whether or not UFC heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez needs shoulder surgery.
Velasquez’s longtime trainer, Bob Cook, today told MMAjunkie that the fighter would like to avoid an invasive procedure but will do what’s necessary to fully rehabilitate his shoulder.
“He’s going in to get re-evaluated in a week-and-a-half, and at that point, we’ll have a better idea,†Cook said. “But it’s not 100 percent one way or the other.â€
Cook wouldn’t confirm or deny whether Velasquez (13-0 MMA, 11-1 UFC) suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder, as was reported on Wednesday by “UFC Tonight,†but said a doctor checked on an injury two weeks ago to see how it was healing. He previously told Yahoo! Sports that the champ injured his shoulder and needed another MRI to determine whether surgery is necessary.
If that’s the case, Cook said Velasquez could spend several months on the bench as he recuperates, which would rule out a return in April. Earlier this month, a Spanish-language website reported that Velasquez would meet Fabricio Werdum on April 19 or April 26 in Mexico City for UFC 172. UFC President Dana White subsequently shot down the report and said Velasquez’s injury will dictate the promotion’s plans for Mexico.
Cook said Velasquez’s timeline for return depends on how well the next doctor’s visit goes.
“I think it all depends on the injury and how he feels,†he said. “As soon as he’s good to go, he’ll fight. I think if he doesn’t need surgery, [April] should be a realistic timeframe. Hopefully, when the doctors look at him again, everything is doing what they want it to do, and he won’t need surgery and he can get going. But if it’s not progressing the way they want it to, then they’re going to fix it, and he’ll be out for a while.â€
Velasquez tore the rotator cuff and labrum in his right shoulder during a title-winning fight against Brock Lesnar at UFC 121 in 2010. He underwent surgery and didn’t fight for 13 months, and when he returned, he lost the heavyweight belt to Junior dos Santos at UFC on FOX 1.
At UFC 155, Velasquez re-took the title in a dominant performance over the Brazilian, and in October, he earned a second victory over dos Santos in a one-sided beating. He also injured his shoulder, according to another longtime trainer, Javier Mendez.
Another surgery would mean Velasquez is competing with two repaired shoulders, which could have a severe effect on his wrestling-infused fighting style.
Cook, of course, hopes to get some good news in the near future.
