Former UFC HW Champ Seeks Summer Return Following Successful Back Surgery

The return of former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez is closer to happening following successful back surgery.

Ariel Helwani reported on UFC Tonight that the No. 1-ranked heavyweight contender is looking to step back inside the cage before July. The date Velasquez is eyeing would make matchmaking intriguing for UFC's Joe Silva.

UFC 198, scheduled for May 14 in Brazil, is headlined by Fabricio Werdum's title defense against Stipe Miocic. No. 3-ranked contender Alistair Overeem meets No. 6-ranked Andrei Arlovski on May 8, and No. 4-ranked Ben Rothwell tangles with No. 5-ranked Junior Dos Santos on April 10.

The highest-ranked contender without a fight is No. 7-ranked Travis Browne, whose last outing was a controversial victory over Matt Mitrione in January.

The good news is that Velasquez is healthy once again, but if he gets the return date he wants, the selection of available ranked opponents is slim. It puts Silva in a tough spot to book Velasquez as the top-ranked contender.

The heavyweight division is heating up in 2016, and Velasquez's return will add much-needed depth to the title picture.