UFC 207 "The B*tch Is Back": (Rousey/Nunes, Garbrandt/Cruz, & Werdum/Cain) [Fri. 12/30]

[bsmooth]

He's out

The Nevada State Athletic Commission opted to not approve Velasquez (14-2) to compete, due to medical issues. The UFC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"Based on medical records, interviews and the best judgment of Chairman Anthony Marnell, attorney general J. Brin Gibson, the executive director's office and our physicians, in an effort to protect the health and safety of the athletes, it's been determined Cain Velasquez is unfit to fight," the NSAC said in a statement.

"The financial incentive for fighters to compete is strongly compelling, and it is the responsibility and obligation of this commission to intervene when excessive risks are evident," the NSAC said. "It's obvious Mr. Velasquez is physically compromised and competing would place him in significant physical risk."

Earlier this week, Velasquez, 34, told ESPN.com he had suffered from back painduring training camp and was already scheduled to undergo surgery on Jan. 4. The San Jose-based heavyweight said he had relied on Cannabidiol (CBD) to dull the pain enough to train.

"It's an achy pain that goes down your leg, and it gets to a point where if you're standing for 10 minutes, you have to sit down," Velasquez told ESPN.com. "If you're going out for a while, a half-hour, you know it's going to be pretty painful. You have to sit down and take the compression off your back."

Despite those revelations, both Velasquez and his longtime coach Javier Mendez insisted he would be fine to face Werdum. The fight was supposed to be a rematch of a heavyweight title fight that took place in June 2015.

"As far as preparation, I've done everything," Velasquez said. "I've sparred, wrestled. I'm not missing workouts at all. I've done my conditioning -- everything. I feel great going into this."

According to sources, the NSAC still felt due to Velasquez's comments regarding the injury, a decision was made to cancel the bout for fighter safety.

 

[LinusCaldwell]

 

[The Infamous]

Let's do it. Don't be scared homie

 

[THEREALBRAND]

Let's do it. Don't be scared homie

That would be a more interesting fight than the Cain rematch.

Please let this happen :lucaslima:

 

[The Infamous]

That would be a more interesting fight than the Cain rematch.

Please let this happen :lucaslima:

Word.

Looks like Werdum don't want it though.

 

[aceboon]

something seems odd about Cain going public with this injury and his plans for surgery right before the fight, I've never seen a fighter in either MMA or boxing do something like that. almost seems like he was looking for someone to make the decision to rule him out of the fight.

 

[The Infamous]

I was excited for this fight too UFC says there will be no replacement.

 

[123456789]

It's moments like this when you wish Rampage was around.

He'd take this fight....and possibly win.

 

[The axe murderer]

So Rockhold pulls out of his fight with Jacare. Rumble pulls out of his fight with Rumble. Now Cain pulls out. All of this with a few months. Team AKA

 

[The G.O.D II]

Cain should have never opened his mouth. Who admits to having back/kneee issues, needing steroid shots and cannabis oil to make through camp, and scheduling surgery 4 days from the fight? He basically pulled out by not pulling out of you get my drift. He knew what he was doing. No commission is going to have him fight when he admits to all those things. He wanted out. Otherwise he would have stayed quiet like everyone else

 

[The G.O.D II]

And werdum owes UFC no favors either. Man is 40 and this is his last shot. He's not risking that on short notice against JDS. Werdum looked bad his last few fights too. Plus they just fired him off his gig at fox. And he's fought several guys already in short notice

 

[123456789]

So Rockhold pulls out of his fight with Jacare. DC pulls out of his fight with Rumble. Now Cain pulls out. All of this with a few months. Team AKA

I always try to stay positive about injuries. I always just tell myself "they train so hard and it's just a brutal line of work" but regardless of training camp...when you see dudes get injured over and over again...these days I, personally, think "roids" immediately.

Hope I'm wrong, though...I'm just glad USADA is cleaning up our sport....even if early on it fukks up a lot of cards.

 

[thernbroom]

black beast in this hoe

 

[123456789]

^^^^ I really don't want to like him...but dude's stock is rising...

I am sorta intrigued by this fight...and I frankly don't think Lewis will ever go any further than a midcard fight on ppv with a Werdum...DO IT, DANA!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Roman Brady]

It's moments like this when you wish Rampage was around.

He'd take this fight....and possibly win.

What fights did he take on short notice rampage was never any day any time type