UFC on FOX 1 Presser: Velasquez Credits dos Santos, Guida vs. Henderson Possibly to Air
By FCF Staff
A boisterous crowd greeted UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez and challenger Junior dos Santos today at the W Hollywood Hotel in Hollywood, California, as the promotion held a press conference to further hype its November 12th debut card on FOX.
The event, which will be hosted by Anaheim’s Honda Center, will see Velasquez battle dos Santos in a main event tilt that will be broadcast live on FOX across North America. The bout will be the first to be carried on the network, after the recent announcement that the UFC and FOX have signed a seven year broadcasting agreement.
FOX has allocated one hour of broadcast time for the November 12th event.
Also in attendance at today’s presser were UFC President Dana White and FOX Sports President Eric Shanks.
Here were some of the highlights.
White said he wanted to give FOX a bout he was certain would be exciting for its first broadcast event, and also noted that the Velasquez, dos Santos tilt will be the first MMA heavyweight title fight to be broadcast on network television.
Velasquez stated that his recovery from shoulder surgery has gone good, and that he’s excited to be back after the long layoff, as the heavyweight hasn’t competed since last October when he stopped Brock Lesnar.
Dos Santos said that although the accomplished wrestler Velasquez will probably be able to take him down, he is prepared to fight anywhere and use his “BJJ.”
Velasquez credited dos Santos for being his toughest test to date, on account of the Brazilian’s “great hands” and boxing skills.
White noted that the pressure is on the UFC and FOX to deliver a memorable broadcast on November 12th, before reporting that no decisions have been made as to what medium will show the card’s other bouts, be it via Facebook, Fox.com, etc.
White and Shanks said that advertisers have been stepping up for the November 12th show, although no details were disclosed.
White reported that “we’re still talking about that” when asked if the Clay Guida, Ben Henderson fight will air on the FOX broadcast if the main event bout ends quickly. White also added that they “may throw that fight on.”
Shanks complimented MMA for the “quality of the fighters” in the sport and that FOX is excited to be finally on board.
Velasquez said “all his focus is on dos Santos” when asked if he can see a future bout materializing with former Strikeforce champ Alistair Overeem.
The champion also added that he expects the fight to “go everywhere”, stating that his boxing and wrestling “needs to be intact for this fight.”