The best and worst from UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs Velasquez

#1 Worst: Velasquez’s body betrays him again

Cain Velasquez was betrayed by his body in his loss

Back in 2008, people in the know believed that the only thing likely to stop Velasquez from becoming the greatest Heavyweight in MMA history would be his own body breaking down. A decade later, that would appear to be the case.

After a total of 2 years and 7 months on the shelf during his latest injury hiatus – a period that also saw him denied a licence from the Nevada State Athletic Commission due to concerns over his health – he was supposed to be 100% healthy last night. But that clearly wasn’t the case.

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The former Heavyweight champ came into his fight with Francis Ngannou looking, well, old. And just 26 seconds into the fight he was stopped following a combination of an uppercut from Ngannou, and his left knee buckling underneath his weight after he simply planted his foot.

How long this new knee injury will keep him out for is anyone’s guess. But the likelihood is that we’ll probably never see Cain healthy in the Octagon again.

Maybe it's time we accepted that his prime came in 2010 – when he took the UFC title from Brock Lesnar – and that the real Velasquez is gone for good due to all of his various injuries.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Musab Abid