UFC Heavyweight Champ Cain Velasquez Likely to Avoid Surgery

Despite initial reports that Cain Velasquez would next defend his belt against Fabricio Werdum in April in Mexico City, those plans are most certainly up in the air, at best.

As MMAWeekly.com content partner Yahoo! Sports reported, Velasquez injured his shoulder in his title defense against Junior dos Santos last month in Houston.

The UFC heavyweight champion’s camp couldn’t pinpoint when during the fight that the injury occurred, and after an initial MRI, wasn’t sure what the best course of action would be for treating it. They planned to have a second MRI before determining whether or not he needed surgery.

MMWeekly.com sources on Friday night indicated that Velasquez would likely not have to undergo surgery, as it is believed he will be able to rehab the injury and heal without an invasive procedure.

The UFC has been working hard to launch a live event in Mexico, but they want to do so with Velasquez. The champion’s father hails from Mexico, and Velasquez, while born in America, fluently speaks English and Spanish.

Velasquez is expected to next defend his belt against Werdum, but with the injury putting the timetable for his next defense in flux, it’s not yet clear when or where they will fight.

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