Fabricio Werdum explains decision to grant Cain Velasquez immediate rematch

Shortly after Fabricio Werdum choked out Cain Velasquez to win the heavyweight title at UFC 188, the mixed martial arts (MMA) community started buzzing over who would be the next contender to compete for the strap.

Velasquez, who offered no excuses for the lopsided defeat, wasn't exactly at the top of the list.

Probably because he was so handily defeated. In fact, even UFC President Dana White was planning to scare up a fresh contender (see his first two choices here), but then a few weeks later, it was announced that Werdum would run it back against the ex-champ.

"I offered him a rematch after the fight because I respect him like I respected Fedor (Emelianenko). Those are the fighters that I…