American · Salinas, USA · Born 28 July 1982Cain Velasquez is a two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights in MMA history, retiring in 2019.
Cain Ramírez Velásquez was born on 28 July 1982 in Salinas, California, to Efraín, who emigrated from Sinaloa, Mexico, and Isabel Velásquez, and was raised in Yuma, Arizona, where he compiled a 110-10 wrestling record at Kofa High School and won two Arizona state championships before wrestling at Arizona State University. Velasquez turned professional in mixed martial arts in 2006, training at San Jose's American Kickboxing Academy, and became a two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion, first defeating Brock Lesnar in 2010 to become the first Mexican-American UFC champion, and reclaiming the title in 2012 after a rematch loss to Junior dos Santos. Velasquez retired from MMA in 2019 due to chronic injuries and briefly pursued professional wrestling, first in Mexico and later with WWE, before his career and personal life were upended in February 2022, when he was arrested and later convicted in connection with a shooting stemming from a family matter, serving a prison sentence before his release. Velasquez is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights in UFC history, his combination of elite wrestling, cardio, and power having defined an era of the division, even as his post-retirement life took a markedly different course from his championship years.
Dominant two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion; wrestling-based ground-and-pound
How They Played
Velasquez was known for his exceptional cardio and relentless pressure, maintaining a pace that exhausted much larger opponents. He combined elite-level wrestling with improved striking, using his wrestling to control fights and his boxing to inflict damage. His signature style involved constant forward pressure, dirty boxing in the clinch, and ground-and-pound from top position.
Lasting Impact
Velasquez revolutionized the heavyweight division by proving that cardio and pace could overcome size and power at the highest level. He inspired a generation of Mexican-American fighters and brought significant Latino fan support to the UFC.
Career Honours
- UFC Heavyweight Champion 2010, 2012
American Athletes