Cain Velasquez is the UFC heavyweight number one contender and will likely fight defending champion Brock Lesnar later this year.
And win or lose, the promotion has already named an upcoming bout to determine which fighter will take his place as potential heir to the throne.
UFC President Dana White has confirmed that the recently announced top contender match-up between Junior dos Santos and Roy Nelson at UFC 117 will decide the next division number one contender when it goes down on August 7 from the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.
"Cigano" cemented his place among the heavyweight big guns after a string of impressive performances against the likes of former Pride FC star Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic at UFC 103, Gilbert Yvel at UFC 108, and most recently against Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC on Versus 1.
The hard-hitting Brazilian is now right on the cusp of his first opportunity to fight for a world title. A win over Nelson at UFC 117, marking his sixth straight victory inside the Octagon, should finally put him over the hump.
But it won't be easy.
"Big Country" endeared himself to casual MMA fans (not really) by pounding out Kimbo Slice during The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 reality show.
After airmailing Brendan Schaub back to Denver at last December's TUF 10 Finale, the portly powerhouse put Stefan Struve on queer street at UFC Fight Night 21 back in March.
If Roy can somehow find a way to put a stop to Junior's meteoric rise up the heavyweight ranks, it will be the last stop on his improbable ascension to the top of the UFC heavyweight mountain.
No gut, no glory.
UFC 117 is set to be headlined by the middleweight title bout between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen. Also featured will be perennial top welterweight contenders Jon Fitch and Thiago Alves along with another 170-pound showdown between Matt Hughes and Ricardo Almeida.
For more on UFC 117 click here.
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