

Photos by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

The ancient Greeks had two meanings for the word utopia. For some it was ‘the good place’, but for others it was ‘the place that cannot be’. 2014 for fight fans is veering down the latter route, with so many potential classics slipping through our fingers.

Now, with the news that heavyweight champion of the world Cain Velasquez has suffered a knee injury, forcing him out of his UFC 180 title defense against Fabricio Werdum in the first UFC main event in the champion’s ancestral home.

The fight against Werdum was to prove an interesting challenge for the two time heavyweight champ. A multi time Mundial and ADCC champion, Werdum etched himself into the memories of fight fans with his iconic submission wins over Fedor Emelianenko, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Alistair Overeem.

Although the loss of the title fight is a terrible situation, the idea that Velasquez will have fought once a year for the last five years due to injuries is deeply saddening. The fighting prime of a prize fighter is an ever so short window of opportunity. Injuries are robbing Velasquez of the chance to prove he’s the voice of his generation of heavyweights.

The last time Velasquez fought someone not named Junior Dos Santos or Antonio Silva was Brock Lesnar in 2010. By the time the champ returns from injury, it’ll have been five years since he and the fight world are treated to a fresh matchup to ponder, strategize and argue over.

Velasquez stated: “To say I was looking forward to fighting in Mexico for the first time is an understatement. I wanted to fight on that card so bad. Looks like it wasn’t meant to be.” For MMA in Mexico, it’s a serious blow to a market and culture excited by the prospect of major MMA attention.

With every tragedy comes opportunity. For the sold out Arena Mexico City, it’s a trade of national pride for gutsy MMA fun. It’s a matchup that no matter what you want to think, all you can really do is smile and go along for the ride. UFC 180: Werdum vs Hunt for the interim title.

For Mark Hunt, it’s just another step on one of the wildest rides through modern MMA. Having crafted yet another walk off knockout, this time to Roy Nelson in the main event in Saitama in September, Hunt’s fairy tale story is nearly at its end.

Among rumors of retirement and a dissolution of his relationship with the UFC, Hunt is now firmly in the spotlight, and is now set to be the first man to ever fight for the UFC, Pride and K1 world titles. Remember the social media rally for Hunt to step in against Junior Dos Santos at UFC 146?

A half ironic campaign, people fused their love of the Super Samoan’s underdog story and the at the time craziness of having a man on a three fight win streak fight for the title, with the memories of his four year losing streak fresh in everyone’s memories.

Everything about Hunt is intriguing. From his manner of speech (unapologetic and apathetic) to his willingness to stay in the pocket and dare people to knock him out, he’s a true character of the sport in a world filled with hyperbole, MMA math and PR tactics.

“I feel blessed to have this opportunity to fight for another world title. This is something that doesn’t happen often to people. First K1 and now UFC – how can I say no, even though it’s on short notice? There’s nothing to lose when you’re competing against the best at the top level.” Hunt said.

If Mark Hunt wins, his will be a story worth retelling. The ultimate underdog who won the 2001 K1 World Grand Prix, his entire career will be a massive middle finger to those who say technique doesn’t conquer all in this day and age.

It must be said that Hunt’s greatest weakness is Werdum’s greatest strength. Sure, Hunt has developed his ground game since the Pride era, but to pick Hunt over Werdum on the ground is a matter of heart over head.

This fight could be determined by Werdum’s choices. His new opponent is worlds apart from Velasquez. Does he utilise a grappling heavy approach, drag Hunt into deep waters until he stops thrashing?

Does he stand with Hunt? Werdum since his return to the UFC has developed tremendously under Rafael Cordeiro in Muay Thai, due to the obvious confidence in his ground game. Why worry about being taken down when you have the best guard in the division? Everyone speculated that he shouldn’t stand with Travis Browne, and Werdum wound up playing with him back in Florida.

The narrative has changed for the main event, and it’s a genuine mixing of deep emotions. On one side we have perhaps the greatest heavyweight in the world denied the right to a rapturous ovation from his true home nation. Think GSP in Montreal, McGregor in Dublin.

On the other hand, we have a main event of underdogs. For their entire careers, each man has always been counted out. Just when they get counted out is when they prevail in iconic fashion.

Werdum vs Hunt is a main event laden with fighting history. K1, the Mundials, ADCC, Pride, Dream, Strikeforce and now a UFC title fight. The culmination of long careers, let’s hope the fight is retribution for those 20,000 in Arena Mexico City.

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