Cain Velasquez vs. Fabricio Werdum headlines historic UFC 180 card in Mexico City, Mexico
For the first time in history, the UFC will hold a pay-per-view card in Mexico with UFC 180 landing in Mexico City on November 15 with heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez vs. Fabricio Werdum in the headline main event.
UFC president Dana White confirmed the news during a press conference in Mexico on Tuesday.
In addition to the fight announcement, Velasquez and Werdum will also coach the first ever season of The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America, filming directly after The Ultimate Fighter season 20 finishes in Las Vegas. TUF: Latin America is also expected to film in Las Vegas according to previous comments from White with the show airing on Televisa in Mexico.
Velasquez will be returning from shoulder surgery that's sidelined him for most of 2013 after his dominant TKO victory over Junior dos Santos at UFC 166 in October last year. The champion was expected to return later this year, but now for the first time ever he'll be able to coach on The Ultimate Fighter as the UFC lands in Mexico with the reality show and a pay-per-view card in November.
"I'm going to be ready to do whatever it takes to give you a great fight," Velasquez said. "I had an injury and I know what I have to do to be ready."
White sounded confident that Velasquez will be healthy and prepared for the fight in November, while also stating that having the heavyweight champion on the card is a key to the UFC's first ever show in Mexico.
Werdum earned the spot against Velasquez after a dominant five round performance over Travis Browne at FOX UFC Saturday in Orlando last weekend. Werdum is already a well known figure throughout Latin America after serving as one of the commentator for UFC broadcasts in Mexico and other Latin countries.
The show in November will take place at the Arena Ciudad de Mexico in Mexico City. The finals for The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America will also take place on the UFC 180 fight card. Tickets for the event will go on sale the week of August 22.
