Welcome back to the UFC, Cain Velasquez?
It’s not official just yet, but ESPN’s Ariel Helwani reports that the former UFC heavyweight champion is being lined up for a return to the Octagon against Francis Ngannou. The fight would headline the promotion’s first ESPN main card on February 17th in Phoenix, Arizona.
The 36-year-old Velasquez (14-2) has had an injury-plagued career, and he’s not fought since knocking out Travis Browne at UFC 200 in July 2016. He lost the heavyweight title to Fabricio Werdum by guillotine choke in June 2015, having been out of action for 20 months after TKOing Junior dos Santos in their trilogy matchup.