Report: Cain Velasquez vs. Fabricio Werdum official for UFC 188 in Mexico in June

Cain Velasquez

A long-rumored heavyweight title unification bout appears to be set for this summer in Mexico.

After winning the interim title in that country in November, Fabricio Werdum (19-5-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC) will get a chance to unify the UFC heavyweight belts there in June against champion Cain Velasquez (13-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC). Televisa Deportes was first to report the news, citing UFC confirmation. UFC officials have yet to make a formal announcement.

But it’s a fight and location that UFC President Dana White confirmed at a November news conference in Las Vegas.

The card will be UFC 188 on June 13 in Mexico City. A venue has not been announced, but the UFC’s inaugural trip to that country and city took place with UFC 180 at Mexico City Arena in November.

Werdum (19-5-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC) scored a second-round TKO victory over Mark Hunt at UFC 180 to win the interim title. Hunt replaced reigning champ Velasquez, who suffered a knee injury three weeks prior to the pay-per-view event.

Velasquez, who reportedly has been making a steady recovery from a torn meniscus and sprained MCL, finally will fight in Mexico. His parents were born there, and he’s been a key to the UFC’s growth in the country.

Velasquez, currently ranked No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA heavyweight rankings (and No. 6 pound-for-pound), hasn’t fought since an October 2013 win over Junior Dos Santos. It marked the 32-year-old’s fourth straight win and second consecutive title defense. Werdum, ranked No. 3, has won five straight UFC fights since a loss to Alistair Overeem in his final Strikeforce bout back in 2011.

For complete coverage of UFC 188 and the rest of the 2015 schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.