UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has sustained a knee injury that will prevent him from competing at UFC 180, but the UFC has already come up with a plan B.

As Velasquez worries about fixing a torn MCL in his right knee, submission specialist Fabricio Werdum will now face feared striker Mark Hunt for the interim heavyweight title at the November 15 pay-per-view.

Velasquez told UFC.com that he was “unbelievably disappointed” to not be fighting on the UFC’s first card in Mexico City (his family is of Mexican descent), while Werdum said he’s ready to fight anyone next month.

“Vai Cavalo” is currently riding a four-fight win streak dating back to February 2012, most recently easily outstriking then-surging contender Travis Browne at UFC on FOX 11 in April.

Werdum had recently coached opposite Velasquez on the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America.

Velasquez, who would’ve been inactive for 13 months prior to this upcoming title defense, is now expected to be on the sidelines until March.

Meanwhile, Hunt, who had lost an unheard of six straight fights between July 2006 and September 2010, has since compiled a solid 5-1(1) record.

“The Super Samoan” showed he still has granite in his hands, even at 40 years old, knocking out the typically iron-chinned Roy Nelson at UFC Fight Night 52 last month.

While fight fans never like to see a champion recovering from injuries for an extended period of time, Werdum vs. Hunt is a matchup that all but guarantees fireworks.