Then serving as the UFC's heavyweight champion, the AKA star was looking to keep his undefeated record intact in arguably the biggest fight in the promotion's history, as Velasquez took on top contender Junior dos Santos, serving as the main event for the organization's first endeavor on FOX.
After mending from a shoulder injury which kept him sidelined for well over a year, Velasquez was swiftly finished by the heavy-hitting bruiser in Dos Santos, who knocked out the California native in just 64 seconds, claiming the belt in the process.
Now looking to regain his footing in the division, Velasquez will reportedly return this April as he takes on Strikeforce transplant Antonio Silva at an as-of-yet-announced event.
Portal Do Vale Tudo reported the matchup which was initially confirmed by former UFC champ Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, training partner and close friend to the behemoth Silva.
The Brazilian was last seen in action when he took on Daniel Cormier in the semifinals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix last September. The Olympian served as a late replacement for Alistair Overeem, who bowed out of the tournament due to injury.
Cormier, another product of AKA, made quick work of Silva, finishing off the juggernaut in less than four minutes of action, leaving Silva the victim of Cormier's most impressive knockout victory to date.
The loss snapped a three-fight win streak for the Team Nogueira fighter, who defeated Mike Kyle, Andrei Arlovski and former heavyweight kingpin Fedor Emelianenko, respectively.
The winner between Velasquez and Silva will be on the short list of would-be contenders to the UFC title, which Dos Santos is set to defend against the aforementioned Overeem later this year.
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