After over two years on the sidelines, Cain Velasquez is ready to roll again.
Officials announced Wednesday that the former UFC heavyweight champion will fight for the first time since July 9, 2016, when he takes on Francis Ngannou at UFC on ESPN on Feb. 17 at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix. ESPN was first to report that the bout was in the works.
Velasquez (14-2) last fought at UFC 200, where he defeated Travis Browne via first-round TKO. That was just the two-time heavyweight titleholder’s second fight in the past five years as he has been riddled with various injuries.