Lesnar-Velasquez Signed for UFC 121

Brock Lesnar will defend his heavyweight crown against unbeaten American Kickboxing Academy thoroughbred Cain Velasquez in the UFC 121 main event on Oct. 23 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Lesnar confirmed the bout as signed via Twitter. MMAFighting.com on Friday was first to report the blockbuster matchup.

In just six professional fights, Lesnar has ascended to the top of the heavyweight division. A four-time collegiate All-American wrestler, he won a Div. I national championship at the University of Minnesota in 2000. Lesnar submitted the previously unbeaten Shane Carwin with a second-round arm-triangle choke in the UFC 116 headliner one week ago in Las Vegas, as he returned to the cage following a lengthy illness. Since entering mixed martial arts in 2007, the 6-foot-3, 265-pound former World Wrestling Entertainment superstar has become the sport’s biggest box office draw. Lesnar holds other notable wins against UFC hall of famer Randy Couture, former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir and Pride Fighting Championships veteran Heath Herring.

Velasquez has finished seven of his first eight foes, five of them inside one round. The 27-year-old last appeared at UFC 110 in February, when he blasted through beloved Brazilian Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in a little more than two minutes. A junior college national champion, Velasquez was a two-time All-American wrestler at Arizona State University. Victories against French kickboxer Cheick Kongo and former International Fight League standout Ben Rothwell anchor his resume.