Dana White Confirms Cain Velasquez vs. Francis Ngannou Bout To Headline UFC On ESPN 1 Event
Earlier this month ESPN’s Ariel Helwani reported a news that former two-time heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will make his Octagon return against knockout sensation Francis Ngannou. The fight would set to headline UFC On ESPN 1 in February.
Now the news has become official as ESPN’s Brett Okamoto confirmed with UFC head honcho Dana White on Friday that this matchup is on. It’s set to take place on Feb. 17 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona.
Breaking: Dana White confirms Cain Velasquez vs. Francis Ngannou will headline UFC Fight Night on Feb. 17 in Phoenix.
Breaking: Dana White confirms Cain Velasquez vs. Francis Ngannou will headline UFC Fight Night on Feb. 17 in Phoenix. pic.twitter.com/4x83IrosOB
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) December 22, 2018
The 36-year-old Velasquez (14-2) has competed since scoring a first-round TKO win over Travis Browne at UFC 200 in July of 2016. Before that Velasquez lost his heavyweight title to Fabricio Werdum after “Vai Cavalo” submitted him at UFC 188 in 2015. This former champion has been riddled with nagging injuries and has only fought four times in the past five years. Now he’s looking back to regain his position when he’ll face Ngannou in February.
Ngannou (12-3) snapped his two-fight losing streak recently when he scored a 45-second TKO win over rising contender Curtis Blaydes at UFC Beijing last month. Before that, “The Predator” suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of Stipe Miocic and Derrick Lewis. Ngannou may face some challenges against wrestling powerhouse Velasquez, especially since Cameroon is good in standing department and couldn’t stop Miocic from taking him down, however, if Ngannou hit a win over Cain that’d be the biggest of his young career.
Share your thoughts who will emerge victoriously?
