Fight week in Mexico City at UFC 180 just hasn’t been the same.
The reason for this is obvious.
Instead of a homecoming fit for a king, Cain Velasquez has been reduced to a pauper, hobbling around the event on crutches after suffering a ton meniscus and MCL in his knee.
“(I’m) just very disappointed in general,” Velasquez said yesterday. “Definitely disappointed. It’s one of my dreams to fight here, and not being to do it, it sucks.
“It’s kind of bittersweet. I want to be here for the guys that I helped in the show. I want to be here for them and I want to see them succeed. But not being a part of it (is tough). I mean, I always pictured them being here and me being part of it also.”
Instead, Velasquez was replaced by Mark Hunt, who will now meet Fabricio Werdum for the title on Saturday. Despite the pair having impressive records, the former champion says that the real title still belongs to him and that Saturday’s match is almost meaningless.
“It’s the interim belt, you know,” Velasquez said. “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,” Velasquez added, “because it’s the interim belt. Interim belt, interim champion. Not the champion.”
