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Cain Velasquez 'feels much better,' cleared to resume regular training in 4-5 weeks

Published Feb. 3, 2016 3:16 p.m. ET

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Jonathan Bradley

Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez says that he is "feeling much better" after undergoing orthoscopic surgery on Monday to relieve the pain that forced him to withdraw from his headlining title bout against Fabricio Werdum at UFC 196.

Velasquez revealed that he had the surgery to "remove bone fragments that were irritating the sciatic nerve" via a Facebook post Wednesday.

The surgery was a success, according to Velasquez, and doctors recommended rest for at least two weeks before he can start light training. He can pick up his regular training in four to five weeks.

Velasquez dropped out of UFC 196 three weeks from the event and was replaced by Stipe Miocic before titleholder Werdum pulled out, himself, also citing a back injury.

The UFC decided to move UFC 196 to free TV, and rename the event UFC Fight Night. Welterweights Johny Hendricks and Stephen Thompson will man the main event for the card that hits FS1 on Saturday.

Officials have yet to announce what's next for Velasquez or Werdum, but signs point to the bout being rebooked for later this year.  

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