Cain Velasquez

 ( Living People ) 

Cain Ramírez Velásquez (born July 28, 1982) is an American former professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. He is widely known for his time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he competed in the heavyweight division and became a two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion.

In 2019, Velasquez retired from mixed martial arts. That same year, Velasquez embarked on a professional wrestling career, firstly working for the Mexican lucha libre promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide before moving to the American WWE promotion. In April 2020, he was released from his WWE contract due to budget cuts resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In March 2022, he was charged with attempted murder and additional gun assault charges after engaging in a car chase and allegedly shooting at a man who was alleged to have molested Velasquez's 4-year-old son, missing the man and hitting the man's father instead. In March 2025, Velasquez was sentenced to five years in prison and four years of supervised probation.

Velasquez has two older siblings: a brother named Efraín Jr. and a sister named Adela. He was raised in Yuma, Arizona. He graduated from Kofa High School where, in four years of wrestling, he compiled a record of 110–10 and won the 5A Arizona Wrestling Championship twice. Velasquez also played American football for three years. As a senior, he served as captain of both his wrestling and football teams. As a football player, he played linebacker.

After high school, he attended Iowa Central Community College, wrestling for one season (2001–02) and winning the NJCAA National Championship in the heavyweight (285 lb limit) division. Afterwards, Velasquez transferred to Arizona State University. He wrestled for the Sun Devils for three seasons and compiled a record of 86–17, placing 5th in the country in 2005, and 4th in 2006. While at ASU earning All-American status twice, Velasquez wrestled alongside future UFC fighters Ryan Bader and C.B. Dollaway. He graduated from ASU in 2006, earning a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies. Former ASU wrestling All-American Cain Velasquez now UFC Champion. ASU Now, Arizona State University. October 26, 2010.

Growing up, Velasquez was a fan of Bruce Lee and Jean-Claude Van Damme, stating, "I grew up watching ‘ Kickboxer,’ and these were the movies I grew up watching. I was a big fan of Bruce Lee, big fan of Van Damme, and in the late 80s and 90s, he ruled the scene as far as fighting movies. They were classics for me, so to be part of it and go over there to do a fight scene (in ), that was awesome."

Velasquez made his MMA debut on October 7, 2006, against Jesse Fujarczyk at , he won by TKO in the first round. Velasquez faced then-undefeated Jeremiah Constant at BodogFight: St. Petersburg, winning via TKO in the first round.

Velasquez made his UFC debut against Brad Morris at UFC 83 and won by TKO in the first round.

In his next fight, Velasquez defeated Jake O'Brien at via TKO in round one.

Velasquez then faced Denis Stojnić at . Velasquez won by TKO in the second round and was awarded 'Knockout of the Night'' honors for his performance.

Velasquez's next fight was at UFC 99 against former kickboxer and heavyweight contender Cheick Kongo. Velasquez was once again dominant, landing 251 strikes and winning the bout by unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, and 30–27).

His next opponent was expected to be Shane Carwin with the winner likely challenging for the UFC Heavyweight Championship held by Brock Lesnar. However, that bout was scrapped and Velasquez was instead told he would be fighting UFC newcomer Ben Rothwell at UFC 104. He defeated Rothwell by second-round TKO.

Velasquez faced former Pride Heavyweight Champion and former Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira on February 20, 2010, at UFC 110. Going into the fight, some commentators predicted that Nogueira would take the victory due to a supposed lack of striking power for Velasquez. Velasquez defeated Nogueira via first-round KO, earning Knockout of the Night honors.

Velasquez suffered a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder during his fight with Lesnar and was expected to be side-lined for at least six to eight months. Surgery on the shoulder was successful and Velasquez planned to return as early as Fall 2011.

Velasquez was expected to make his first title defense against Junior dos Santos, with a target date of November 19, 2011, at UFC 139, but the fight was later moved to November 12, 2011, to headline the first UFC on Fox 1 event. Velasquez lost via KO (punches) at 1 minute and 4 seconds of the first round. It was later revealed that Dos Santos had a minor knee injury (a torn meniscus) and took an injection of cortisone into the knee before the fight. This was followed by the revelation that Velasquez had reinjured his rotator cuff approximately a week before the fight. Junior dos Santos had knee surgery following the fight.

Velasquez was originally set to fight Frank Mir on May 26, 2012, at UFC 146. However, Mir was moved up to face Junior dos Santos after Alistair Overeem was suspended for elevated testosterone levels. Velasquez instead faced Antônio Silva. Velasquez defeated Silva via first-round TKO, in a fight that saw Silva bleed profusely from his forehead. After the fight, Dana White strongly hinted that Velasquez would be the next fighter to challenge for the UFC Heavyweight Championship. It is widely thought that White made the decision to have the rematch with Dos Santos at such an unexpected time as both fighters were injured going into their first fight.

A rematch with dos Santos was expected to take place on September 22, 2012, at UFC 152. However, the date for the rematch was later set for UFC 155. In the rematch, Velasquez defeated Dos Santos in a dominant performance via unanimous decision (50–45, 50–43, and 50–44) to regain the UFC heavyweight title. Velasquez became the first fighter in UFC history to post triple digits in significant strikes landed and double digits in takedowns landed in a single fight, landing 111 significant strikes and eleven takedowns.

In his first title defense, Velasquez faced Antônio Silva in a rematch on May 25, 2013, at UFC 160. Velasquez won via TKO in the first round.

A rubber match with Junior dos Santos took place at UFC 166 on October 19, 2013, in Houston, Texas. Velasquez TKO at 3:09 of the fifth round, successfully defending his title.

On April 29, 2014, the UFC selected Velasquez and Fabrício Werdum as coaches for the inaugural installment of , with the two expected to face each other on November 15, 2014, at UFC 180. However, on October 21, 2014, Velasquez pulled out of the bout due to a torn meniscus and sprained MCL in his right knee, and was replaced by Mark Hunt. On October 23, 2014, Velasquez underwent successful surgery to repair his torn meniscus.

A rescheduled bout with UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Fabrício Werdum took place on June 13, 2015, at UFC 188. In a back-and-forth affair, Velasquez lost the fight via guillotine choke submission in the third round. Velasquez would later admit that he had not adequately prepared for the fight, held in Mexico City which sits at an altitude of 7,300 feet, as he had only moved his camp to elevation two weeks before the day of the card. In contrast, Werdum had spent more than a month in Mexico City to get used to the higher altitude.

Velasquez next faced Travis Browne on July 9, 2016, at UFC 200. He won the fight via TKO in the closing seconds of the first round.

The rematch against Werdum was rescheduled and expected to take place on December 30, 2016, at UFC 207. However, the Nevada State Athletic Commission failed to approve Velasquez to fight, determining after physical examinations and interviews that he was unfit to compete due to bone spurs on his back.

As the first fight of his new, four-fight contract, Velasquez headlined UFC's inaugural event on ESPN, against Francis Ngannou on February 17, 2019. He lost the fight via knockout less than thirty seconds into round one.

On October 4, 2019, after Velasquez's first appearance for the WWE, it was revealed that Velasquez would be withdrawing from the USADA testing pool to focus on his professional wrestling career. Velasquez announced his retirement from MMA on October 11, 2019.

not guilty to all charges. He was then scheduled to appear at a pre-trial hearing on September 26. After being incarcerated for eight months, Velasquez was granted $1 million bail on November 8. His bail was posted and Velasquez was released from custody the next day. As per the condition of his bail, Velasquez was placed under [[house arrest]] until the conclusion of his trial. On November 22, Velasquez was granted permission from the court to travel to Tempe, Arizona, to partake in a Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide professional wrestling event. Per the court, Velasquez was allowed to be without his ankle monitoring device while performing in-ring, but he was to be monitored by police throughout the course of his travel. On December 3, Velasquez participated in the Tempe event, winning his return match.