The UFC is giving heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez a deadline to recover from his injury to keep his title.
If Velasquez isn't able to fight by March 2015, then the new champ will be the winner of the Interim title fight, which will be decided between Fabricio Werdum and Mark Hunt at UFC 180, according to MMA Fighting.
Velasquez hasn't defended his title since October 2013, and was originally supposed to take on Werdum before an injury forced him out of the bout.
"We're headed in that direction now," said UFC president Dana White. "This next fight in Mexico is for the interim title. So if Cain couldn't compete again, the winner of this fight would be seen as the champion."
The injury that put Velsquez out of commission was a sprained medial collateral ligament and torn meniscus in his right knee, Yahoo! Sports reported.
The announcement comes at a time when the UFC is attempting to use Velasquez's popularity and Mexican heritage to expand its audience in Mexico.
White pointed out the strengths in both Werdum and Hunt, including Werdum's ground game, submission skills and stand up and Hunt's ability to change a fight with one punch, MMA Fighting reported.
UFC 180 will take place on Saturday, Nov. 15th, in Mexico City.
