The main card for UFC 121 is now official.
The promotion announced today the five-fight card set for Anaheim, California’s Honda Center on October 23.
The card is headlined by a heavyweight championship bout between title-holder Brock Lesnar and undefeated top contender Cain Velasquez.
“Throughout fighting history, there has never been a Mexican heavyweight champion, but at UFC 121, Cain Velasquez will try to make history and become the first,” UFC President Dana White said. “To do that though, he must defeat the baddest man on the planet, UFC heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar. Also, fresh off his destruction of Dan Henderson, Jake Shields enters the UFC, and he’s got his sights set on the welterweight title, but he’s got to get by Martin “The Hitman” Kampmann first.”
Lesnar says he’s ready to be back in the Octagon.
“I’m looking forward to getting right back in the Octagon,” Lesnar said. “After the long layoff, my last fight was just an appetizer, I’m still hungry. I’m in great condition and the timing couldn’t be better. Cain Velasquez is undefeated and he’s the legitimate No. 1 contender, but he’s not the guy that is going to take my UFC heavyweight title. It’s not his time; it’s my time. I’m coming to California to defend my crown, and on October 23rd, I’ll be walking out of the Octagon with my hand raised and the belt around my waist. Cain will be leaving with his first loss. It’s as simple as that.”
Velasquez says he’s ready to face the behemoth champion. “I feel honored to be fighting for the heavyweight title against Brock,” Velasquez said. “He is a great fighter with a lot of size and is super athletic. This will be a great fight with a lot of action and it means a lot to me to be fighting for the title in L.A., close to my hometown. I will have a lot of people behind me cheering me on.”
The evening’s co-feature will be a welterweight bout between recent UFC acquisition and former Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields and UFC veteran Martin Kampmann.
The remainder of the card includes a light heavyweight match up between former champion Tito Ortiz and contender Matt Hamill, a welterweight showdown between Diego Sanchez and Paulo Thiago, and, lastly, a heavyweight bout between Brendan Schaub and Gabriel Gonzaga.
Tickets for the event go on sale later in the week.