Mexico City a Possible Host for April UFC

Greg SavageOct 10, 2009
Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com


UFC heavyweight contender Cain Velasquez recently returned from a highly-successful media tour of Mexico to hype his co-main event with Ben Rothwell at UFC 104 in Los Angeles on Oct. 24. According to his coach Javier Mendez, who accompanied his young prospect on the trip, the former Arizona State University wrestling standout was a huge hit south of the border.

“Cain was so popular down there,” said Mendez, the head trainer at American Kickboxing Academy. “It was amazing to see their response to him. The Mexican people love real fighters and Cain showed them he was a true warrior in his fight with [Cheick] Kongo.”

Velasquez (6-0) may get a chance to fight in front of those die-hard fight fans sooner rather than later. UFC president Dana White has promised an event in Mexico sometime in 2010, and it seems the promotion may be planning on April for their Mexican debut.

Mendez told Sherdog.com that he has been hearing that April is the target, though he said he did not have a concrete date. He did say he expected the UFC to stack the card with Latino talent.

Likely competitors could include Velasquez, Ultimate Fighter Season 8 winner Efrain Escudero (12-0) and possibly Tito Ortiz (12-6-1).