UFC president Dana White today announced that Velasquez and Dos Santos will headline UFC on FOX 1, which takes place Nov. 12 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
The event marks the UFC's debut on network television and kicks-off a seven-year deal between the UFC and FOX, a partnership that also includes UFC programming on FX and FUEL TV.
Velasquez and Dos Santos were expected to meet in the main event of UFC 139, which takes place just one week later, on Nov. 19. However, the contest was never officially announced for the event.
While a new headliner will need to be secured for the card, White said UFC 139 will go on as scheduled.
Dos Santos defeated Shane Carwin in this past June's UFC 131 main event. The victory, which earned Dos Santos the title shot, came via lopsided scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 30-26 following a dominant first round that left his opponent bruised and bloodied. The victory was the Brazilian's eighth straight (and seventh consecutive win in the UFC). Other victories have come over the likes of Fabricio Werdum, Stefan Struve and Roy Nelson.
Velasquez, a former Division I All-American wrestler, is 9-0 since turning pro in MMA in 2006. All but one of the victories came via knockout. The California-based American Kickboxing Academy fighter won the title with a first-round TKO of then-champ Brock Lesnar in October but has been sidelined ever since after undergoing surgery for a torn rotator cuff. Prior to the win, he defeated the likes of Cheick Kongo, Ben Rothwell and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
The Velasquez vs. Dos Santos matchup will be the only guaranteed fight during the one-hour special, but the promotion will put on a full fight card for fans attending the event.
source: twitter.com
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