Could Cain Velasquez by stripped of title?
UFC heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez, held a media scrum yesterday, in Mexico City, and quickly dismissed any notion that this weekend’s title fight between Fabricio Werdum and Mark Hunt holds any value.
“It’s the interim belt, you know. It’s the interim belt. We’re going to fight for the real one coming up. So I don’t think too much into it. When I have my chance to fight, we’ll fight for the real one.
“That’s how I view it. Because it’s the interim belt. Interim belt, interim champion. Not the champion.”
UFC President Dana White sees it otherwise. Velasquez has not defended the heavyweight title since Oct. 19, 2013 when he defeated Junior dos Santos in their third meeting.
When asked if Velasquez could eventually be stripped of the title since he has been plagues by injury White said this:
“We’re headed in that direction now. This next fight in Mexico is for the interim title. So if Cain couldn’t compete again, the winner of this fight would be seen as the champion.”
If the winner of Hunt vs. Werdum escapes injury free they may be expected to compete against Velasquez in the Spring. If the champion is not ready by then, the interim champion may assume the role as champion.
