#3 Cain Velasquez
Cain Velasquez (14-2) is a former 2-time UFC Heavyweight (HW/265 pound) champion and NCAA Division-1 wrestler.
Velasquez developed into a well-rounded MMA fighter owing to his time spent at the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) in San Jose, California where he trains alongside elite MMA superstars such as Daniel Cormier, Luke Rockhold, Josh Thomson and many others.
Velasquez is known as a wrestle-boxer with a grinding work ethic, brutal ground-and-pound and a granite chin. He proudly represents his Mexican-American heritage and regards Mexican boxing legends as his inspiration.
Velasquez broke through into the big-time when he brutalised the former UFC HW champion and WWE Superstar, Brock Lesnar. Velasquez held his own in the grappling department against Lesnar and out-struck ‘The Beast Incarnate’ en-route to a 1st round TKO at UFC 121.
Velasquez dethroned Lesnar for the UFC HW title but lost his strap to Junior ‘Cigano’ Dos Santos in November of 2011 at UFC’s first event on the FOX network.
Velasquez came back with a vengeance to reclaim his belt, knocking out Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva at UFC 146 and then outclassing Cigano in a brutal 5-round bloodbath en-route to a dominant decision win at UFC 155.
He defended his strap in a rematch against ‘Bigfoot’ and then finished Cigano with a slam and follow-up punches at UFC 166. Velasquez’s aforementioned 5-fight win streak with the exception of the lone loss to Cigano were all brutal bloodbaths with Velasquez leaving his opponents in a puddle of their own blood.
Most recently, Velasquez rebounded from a submission loss to Fabricio Werdum at UFC 188, by knocking out the 6’7” Hawaiian HW Travis Browne at UFC 200.
Velasquez is often referred to by his fans as ‘The Mexican Cain-Saw’ (meaning- Chainsaw), owing to his ability to cut and brutalise his opponents.
Velasquez is not only feared for his ability to decimate his opponents on the ground but is also widely respected for his crisp boxing game, with a stinging jab, lethal overhand right and excellent dirty boxing (roughing his opponent up in the clinch).
Add to this the fact that Velasquez is an oddly calm fighter even in the most chaotic in-cage scenarios, and you have a nightmare opponent - A Mexican nightmare to be precise!
