Velasquez excited to make UFC return in Mexico

Ultimate Fighting Championship officials have long believed the organization would be successful in Mexico, and Cain Velasquez always was the obvious choice to be the focus of that effort.

The American-born son of a father who entered the United States as an undocumented immigrant, the UFC heavyweight champion has a prominent “Brown Pride” tattoo across his chest. He spent much of his formative years living in an Arizona border town and spending weekends and holidays with family in Mexico.

That’s why it was so difficult for Velasquez to pull out of the UFC’s first scheduled event in Mexico in November when he suffered a knee injury.

It was even more difficult to watch Fabricio Werdum instead defeat Mark Hunt for an interim belt that was created because Velasquez had been out of action for so long.

Watching Werdum stand in the middle of the octagon in Mexico City as he put on the heavyweight belt could not have been easy for Velasquez.

“It was really hard, especially to not be a part of that moment,” he said. “I understand why the UFC (created the interim belt). I was gone for a long time. The good thing is, after I win this fight, the whole situation is resolved.”

Yes, Velasquez is essentially getting a do-over.

UFC 188, the organization’s second event in Mexico, will be headlined by a heavyweight unification bout between Velasquez and Werdum tonight in Mexico City.

Velasquez last fought in October 2013, when he knocked out Junior dos Santos in the fifth round of a fight he controlled from the start.

He and Werdum were named coaches of the first season of “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America,” which was set to culminate in a fight between the two in November on the same night the champions of the inaugural season were determined.

The time off for filming, combined with the injury, have led to nearly a 20-month absence.

Velasquez, 32, is excited for that inactivity to end.

“I feel good,” he said by phone from his San Jose, Calif., training camp before departing for Mexico. “We’re getting closer and closer. I’m counting down the days. All the work is done, and I’m ready to get in there. To not be active, it definitely has been frustrating. All you can do is whatever you can to get back out there. It’s definitely hard when you’re doing all that work, but you can’t get in there and fight.”

While injuries have plagued Velasquez’s career, there is no denying his ability once he gets into the cage. He is an elite-level wrestler who was a two-time All-American at Arizona State. His striking game quickly evolved when he took up mixed martial arts not long after college, largely because of his speed and agility.

Perhaps his best weapon in the cage is his cardio, which is a marvel among heavyweights.

Werdum is the unquestioned top contender, yet Velasquez will still enter the cage as more than a 5-1 favorite.

Velasquez is just that good, though the question tonight could be how much he will be affected by the long layoff.

He’s not concerned.

“There’s always going to be butterflies, and the crowd will be crazy, but I always have a game plan, and I’m thinking about that game plan and what I have to do to execute it,” he said. “That’s it.”

What won’t be going through his mind is all the time he has spent thinking about fighting in Mexico. There will be plenty of time to reflect on that later.

He does acknowledge the moment will be special, though.

“It’s going to feel great. I’ve always had it in my head that I wanted to fight there,” he said. “To finally have it happen is awesome. The people have always showed me a lot of support, and I can’t wait to give them a good show.”

The pay-per-view event, which includes a lightweight fight between Gilbert Melendez and Eddie Alvarez, begins at 7 p.m.

A four-fight preliminary card airs live on FX (Cable 24) at 5 p.m. Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo will be featured in a flyweight bout against Chico Camus.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.