• UFC 180

Velasquez-Werdum set for UFC 180 in Mexico

Cain Velasquez will take his 13-1 record to Mexico for his heavyweight title bout against Fabricio Werdum © Getty Images

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A heavyweight title bout between Cain Velasquez and Fabricio Werdum will headline the promotion's first live event in Mexico on November 15, UFC president Dana White said at a news conference in Mexico City on Tuesday.

Velasquez and Werdum will first appear as coaches on a Latin American version of The Ultimate Fighter reality series and then meet at UFC 180 in Mexico City.

"The UFC is finally coming to Mexico," White said. "Any of you who have followed this company and this sport know I've been talking about Mexico for a very long time. I always knew we would be big here when we got the opportunity to come here."

The reality show is expected to begin filming next month in Las Vegas. It will feature contestants in the bantamweight and featherweight weight classes.

The TUF series has expanded to other countries in recent years, including China, Brazil, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.

Velasquez (13-1) will seek his third consecutive title defence. He hasn't fought since a unanimous decision over Junior dos Santos at UFC 166 in October. He underwent surgery on a torn labrum in his left shoulder in December.

The 31-year-old champion, who was born in the U.S. to parents who emigrated from Mexico, has not yet resumed training, but is confident he will be physically ready to go by November.

"I'm going to do whatever I can to do to fight here in Mexico," Velasquez said. "I'm going to be ready to do whatever it takes to give a great fight. I know that I had an injury but I know what I have to do to be ready."

Werdum (18-5-1) is on a four-fight win streak. The Brazilian is coming off a dominant unanimous decision over Travis Browne earlier this month in Orlando, Florida. Werdum is 7-1 in his last eight fights.

This article originally appeared on ESPN.com

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