Mark Hunt just stepped into a big opportunity. | Photo: Taro Irei/Sherdog.com
Cain Velasquez’s time on the shelf has been extended.
The 40-year-old Hunt last appeared at UFC Fight Night in Japan, where he garnered a second-round knockout of Roy Nelson. “The Super Samoan” is 5-2-1 in the Octagon overall, with other notable victories against Ben Rothwell, Cheick Kongo and Stefan Struve.
Werdum, meanwhile, enters the bout on a four-fight winning streak. The Brazilian known as “Vai Cavalo” most recently appeared at UFC on Fox 11, where he displayed improved striking skills en route to a five-round verdict against Travis Browne. Werdum owns wins over the likes of Fedor Emelianenko, Alistair Overeem, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Gabriel Gonzaga, Antonio Silva and Nelson, to name a few.
Velasquez has not competed since October 2013, when he stopped Junior dos Santos via TKO in the fifth round at UFC 166.