Cain Velasquez will now face Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva at UFC 146
Cain Velasquez has a new opponent for May’s UFC 146 in Las Vegas. Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva will step in to face Velasquez in his UFC debut. Dana White made it official today:
Don’t believe any of the BS you read on the internet. Cain is fighting Bigfoot Silva May 26th in Vegas
— Dana White (@danawhite) April 22, 2012
Velasquez was originally slated to face Frank Mir in a perceived number-one contender’s match, but these plans fell apart when original title challenger Alistair Overeem had a random drug test come into question. While both contenders are amongst the top ten Heavyweights in the world, both are coming off of knockout losses and will have much to prove.
With many considering Velasquez to be an unstoppable wrecking machine after his brutal victories over Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira and Brock Lesnar in 2010, this status was quickly taken from him last November. Knocked out by current titleholder Junior dos Santos in only sixty-four seconds, Velasquez finds himself in need of a win to climb back up the ladder. It remains to be seen if Velasquez is fully healed from the debilitating shoulder injury that has limited him to only one fight since October of 2010.
Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva has even more to prove than Velasquez as he enters the Octagon for the first time. He gained many accolades by defeating the legendary Fedor Emelianenko in early 2011, but was then knocked out by Daniel Cormier later in the year. After exiting the Strikeforce World Heavyweight Grand Prix, he made his way to the UFC to fight the best in the world. While he was originally slated to face Roy Nelson on this card, he will now find himself with an increase in competition. This fight will tell just how ready he is for the UFC amidst much hype.
Whoever comes out victorious in this clash of behemoths will find themselves near the top of the UFC Heavyweight division. Velasquez may be fighting for the title with a convincing finish. What will prevail on May 26? Will it be the wrestling and cardio of Cain Velasquez or the high-level BJJ and sheer power of Antonio Silva?
