Earlier this week former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez revealed he’s been using Cannabidiol (CBD) to help cope with back pain leading into his UFC 207 rematch with Fabricio Werdum next Friday in Las Vegas, and that’s led to concerns from the UFC regarding his health.
As such, they’ve now requested that Velasquez undergo a medical assessment on Christmas Eve to prove that he’s still fit to fight.
“I’m doing [the medical] tomorrow,” Velasquez confirmed in a Q&A with MMAfighting.com’s Ariel Helwani. “He’s going to look me over and give me the green light and then call the UFC and do the same there.”
Velasquez, who claims he’s now stopped using CBD, had somewhat alarmingly suggested that he can’t stand for more than 10 minutes without feeling pain in his back, but nonetheless he told Helwani that hasn’t affected his ability to perform in the Octagon.
“I’ll be fine. I’m getting a cortisone shot. I’ll be 100 percent, no problem. I’m doing two-hour practices now on my feet. I’m good, and I will be good.”
Velasquez had previously informed the media a few weeks ago that he’ll be undergoing surgery on his back just a few days after his fight with Werdum, but he’s now attempted to play down fears that could lead the injury-prone star to yet another lengthy layoff.
“It’s a very simple surgery, though. They are just shaving off some bone to make room for my sciatic nerve, and recovery time should be about three weeks. Give me a month to be 100 percent certain, and I should be ready to fight again around March or April.”
