Former two-time heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will finally make his return to the Octagon at UFC on ESPN 1, where he takes on heavy hitting knockout artist Francis Ngannou in the main event at Talking Stick Resort in Phoenix, Arizona.
The bout was first reported by ESPN’s Ariel Helwani earlier this month, and UFC president Dana White confirmed the matchup to ESPN on Friday evening.
Velasquez, now 36, hasn’t fought since his first-round mauling of Travis Browne at UFC 200, back in 2016. The wrestling powerhouse has been riddled with injuries and has fought just four times in the past five years.