Mike Chiappetta • E-mail

Rising UFC heavyweight star Cain Velasquez will likely be unable to fight until 2009 due to a knee injury.

Velasquez suffered a torn meniscus and recently had it repaired but will not start physical rehabilitation until next week, according to his manager Bob Cook, who added that Velasquez has not been able to fully train since his last bout in July.

"After his last fight, he was having issues and it kept getting worse," said Cook.

The UFC had hoped to see Velasquez return to action on a Dec. 10 event scheduled for Fort Bragg, N.C.

Velasquez is a former Arizona State wrestler who earned All-America status twice during his collegiate career. He has been a quick study in MMA with a perfect 4-0 record and has dominated in both of his UFC fights with first-round TKOs.

Though he comes in with a wrestling background, the 26-year-old Velasquez has drawn raves from his teammates, trainers and insiders who praise his aptitude for learning and athletic ability.

Current Affliction fighter Paul Buentello is one of Velasquez's stablemates at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif. Buentello is a seasoned and respected fighter with almost 40 fights to his credit and has fought in major promotions including the UFC and Strikeforce.

"I think he'll give [current interim champ Antonio Rodrigo] Nogueira a good run for his money right now," Buentello said. "He's a push-push kind of guy. He just keeps going forward. He doesn't care. He's a Mexican version of Fedor Emelianenko. He has no worries about engaging. He overlooks it and goes straight forward."

Velasquez has adapted quickly to the standup game under the tutelage of AKA striking coach Javier Mendez. All four of his wins have been knockouts coming inside of a round.  In his April 2008 UFC debut, he overwhelmed Brad Morris in just 2:10. In July, he needed only 2:02 to finish off Jake O’Brien. In addition, he is noted for having an incredible work ethic and unending stamina which Buentello likens to a "marathon runner or Ironman triathlete."

Many insiders see him as the eventual heir to the heavyweight division.

“Cain’s still young and learning the fight game, but if he can keep his head clear and not get caught up into the hype, he’ll be unstoppable,” Buentello said.

WEC to shed 185-, 205-pound divisions in '09
It’s official. The WEC will focus only on lower-level weight classes after its last event of the year on Dec. 3, the organization announced in a Friday press release.

Dana White told NBCSports.com earlier this year that the move was likely, and that the affected fighters would have their contracts transferred over to the UFC.

The WEC will be left with the bantamweight (135), featherweight (145), lightweight (155) and welterweight (170) classes. Urijah Faber, arguably their most popular and marketable star, fights at featherweight.

Among fighters who will find a new home in the octagon are former light-heavyweight champ Brian Stann, current champ Steve Cantwell, and undefeated middleweight champ Paulo Filho.

Liddell in Philippines laying groundwork
The Philippines has always been known as a country that loves its fights. Ring Magazine No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer Manny Pacquiao is a national hero who is often greeted at the airport by thousands. But even with the circus that usually follows the UFC around, Chuck Liddell must have been shocked at the throngs that greeted him at a recent Manila appearance. A reported group of 4,000 fans showed up to a light workout session in a local mall. The UFC is planning to do a live event in the Philippines in 2009.

Lost Tanner blogs
An Evan Tanner memorial will be held this weekend in his hometown of Amarillo, Texas. Earlier this week, Spike.com found a couple of entries Tanner had made into its blog engine but not published. These are the last words and photos Tanner sent out to his fans.

Dean Lister choked out by George Clooney
You know MMA is getting big when you're hanging with the current king of Hollywood.

Kurt Angle to MMA … or not
Pro wrestler Kurt Angle seems to enjoy keeping his name in circulation by occasionally telling newspapers that he will be making his MMA debut. Those of us who know better are aware that he’s been saying that for at least the last two years, and hasn’t made any headway. In the MMA world, he’s just a boy crying "wolf." UFC President Dana White told me in the past that he once spoke to Angle about fighting but he didn’t believe his heart was in it. One other thing to keep in mind here: Angle will be 40 later this year.

MORE FROM MMA

MMA Section Front

Babalu wins Strikeforce title after cut stoppage MMA Notebook: Lesnar, a UFC hero and more MMA Behind the Scenes photos: UFC 91 Crisis averted; Fitch, AKA back in UFC Fitch cut, AKA team's status in UFC in jeopardy Penn ready for a date with GSP — and destiny Is Brock Lesnar the LeBron James of MMA? Lesnar starts new era with KO over Couture UFC 91: Lesnar vs. Couture action photos UFC 91: Lesnar vs. Couture round-by-round MMA Section Front   Add MMA headlines to your news reader: