Velasquez (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

Although a recent report seemed to indicate the UFC might strip Cain Velasquez of the heavyweight title in early 2015, if the champ isn’t ready to compete, Dana White has clarified what he was trying to relay.

In a recent interview with UFC.com, White confirmed that Velasquez would be stripped of the championship, if the renowned fighter “couldn’t compete again.” Since Velasquez is expected to return to action in March, 2015, the comments were widely interpreted as a deadline for the the champion’s return.

Well, while speaking to FOX Sports 2 after UFC 180, White had this to say about the widely publicized comments:

“That’s not what I said. I said if we ended up in a situation where he got severely injured again where he can’t fight for several more months, then we’d strip him.”

Velasquez hasn’t fought now since October, 2013, when he stopped Junior dos Santos. The 32 year-old has been sidelined throughout 2014 due to shoulder and knee injuries.

As a result, the UFC had Fabricio Werdum fight Mark Hunt for an interim title on Saturday night, and Werdum won the title via second round, stoppage.