Injured Shoulder Sidelines Velasquez Until Summer

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UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez will be out six to eight months nursing an injured shoulder.

Sherdog.com learned of Velasquez's injury last week from sources close to the fighter, and the information was verified today by UFC president Dana White in an interview with MMA Fighting following the UFC 125 pre-fight news conference.

Velasquez was expected to defend his title in early 2011 against top contender Junior dos Santos, but that idea has been scrapped. According to White, the hopeful return date for the champ is sometime this summer.

In dos Santos, Velasquez faces a massive Brazilian with knockout power in both hands. “Cigano” is undefeated since joining the UFC in 2008 and earned the top contender spot by besting “Ultimate Fighter 10” winner Roy Nelson at UFC 117 in August. With the exception of Nelson, the Black House product has finished all of his opponents inside the Octagon, including Fabricio Werdum, Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic and Stefan Struve.

Velasquez snatched the heavyweight belt away from the monstrous Brock Lesnar at UFC 121 in October, blasting the 280-pound titleholder with crisp punches and bloodying his face. Within minutes, a wobbly Lesnar was in full retreat, and Velasquez sealed the deal with devastating ground-and-pound at 4:12 of the first frame.

Undefeated in nine professional outings, the American Kickboxing Academy standout holds notable victories over former International Fight League titleholder Ben Rothwell and french kickboxer Cheick Kongo. Velasquez also holds the distinction of being only the second man to ever finish former Pride Fighting Championships champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.