Cain Velasquez: From MMA champion to courtroom struggles—what’s the future hold?

Another fighter whose name will find a good reception within the MMA fraternity, especially the weights division, is Cain Velasquez. You wouldn’t think that the cardio, pressure, and ground and pound style of Velasquez led to this guy becoming a UFC heavyweight champion, which he did twice, making him one of the best fighters in the history of the heavyweight division. However, he has been having personal and legal troubles, though he was a great fighter in the octagon cage.

And this article not only tells the story of how Velasquez enjoyed a fairly successful start in the MMA and how he fought his way up the rankings, how a series of misfortunes dogged his career and how he left the ring, and his controversies with the law that landed him headlines. When one will attempt to speak about what the future reserves for a fighter who appeared to be invulnerable, it is possible not to mention the weaknesses and the setbacks of this life.

Early Life: The Making of a Warrior

Cain Velasquez’s story did not start when he entered the octagon to begin his fight. He was born on the 28th of July 1982 in Salinas, California, to a family that was of Mexican origin and essentially of the working class. The family had moved to the United States from Mexico, and Efrain Velasquez’s father spent most of his youthful years struggling to provide for the family. Cain was brought up with a hardworking ethic and never say die attitude, which will define his MMA career.

Regarding the extracurricular activities, in high school, Velasquez decided to only join the wrestling team. His muscle power and intent put him in the top league of this sport in a short span of time. Velasquez’s wrestling success got him a scholarship to Arizona State University, where he was an All-American twice. When it came down to it, wrestling was the best way to prepare him for the world of MMA because it gave him the tools and the mindset to dominate cage opponents.

In addition to the wrestling accomplishments, former champion Jose Juan Velasquez also rediscovered his heritage, something that was important to him. Of Mexican origin, Velasquez often came to his UFC fights wearing the flag of Mexico. More importantly, his motivation originated from his ancestry, and he wanted to motivate Mexican Americans and Latinxs. The nickname “El Toro” was the way he delivered himself in the ring, besides being the manner in which he took standing on the cultural issue.

The Road to MMA Stardom

It was a relatively easy move for Velasquez to switch to MMA once he did so, especially with a wrestling background. He later transferred to the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) in San Jose, California, where he trained together MMA fighters such as Daniel Cormier and Luke Rockhold. Velasquez proved this by improving his stand-up to even another level, thus making him an even bigger problem for all fighters in the HW division while he was at AKA.

Velasquez began professional MMA fights in 2006, and it only took him less than 5 minutes to knock down his opponent. By 2008, he was associated with the UFC, and he began fighting for the organization. His first fight in the UFC against Brad Morris was a TKO win and the start of a great career for the fighter. Many of Velasquez’s fights in the early stages of his UFC career demonstrated his power, speed, and relentless tempos, which were rare for a fighter of the heavyweight division.

When Velasquez finally got his shot at the title in 2010, he was 8-0, and seven of his wins were knockouts or technical knockouts. His opponent in the UFC Heavyweight Championship match was another hungry man by the name of Brock Lesnar, an ex-NCAA wrestler and WWE superstar infamous in the octagon. But Velasquez was able to knock down Lesnar in the first round and take the belt, making her the first Mexican-American UFC heavyweight champion ever. This became history in the history of the sport and for Velasquez as he claimed the world champion title in the MMA.

The Mastery of the Cage and the First Collapse

Velasquez was believed to have a long reign as the champion after he had defeated Lesnar. But the first title defense he had was not just a walk in the park as many expected it to be. At the end of December 2011, Velasquez was to defend the belt against another dangerous striker from Brazil, Junior Dos Santos, at the UFC’s first event on Fox. As the favorite of the fight, Velasquez was knocked out only 1:04 into the fight and thus lost his title in a huge upset. The much anticipated match was from a different planet altogether because Velasquez had been overwhelming his rivals and was believed to be, or rather, as close to invincible as could be.

But the fighting spirit was not all together killed in Velasquez. He came back to the octagon in 2012 and knocked out Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, which earned him another shot at Dos Santos. In their second bout of the fight, which was UFC 155, Velasquez ensured that there was no way Dos Santos was going to take the fight to the judges as he dominated the champion for the full five rounds to regain his heavyweight strap in easily one of the worst title fights one could imagine.

Velasquez and Dos Santos would fight again in the third match at UFC 166. Velasquez once again came out victorious; this time he knocked Dos Santos out via TKO in the fifth round. It is still considered one of the greatest rivalries in the heavyweight division, but it also cemented Velasquez as a champion—when his body was cooperating.

The Injury Bug

Velasquez’s time as champion was filled with spectacular fights, but his career was plagued with injuries. Since winning the heavyweight title of the world back, Velasquez was able to defend it against Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva for the second time; however, his progression was slowed by injuries, which saw him remain on the sidelines of action for long periods.

Velasquez’s worst luck was when he did not get to compete against Fabricio Werdum in 2014 because of a knee injury. This was one of the many injuries that Velasquez had to endure over the years, including torn ligaments, rotator cuffs, and back issues. These injuries affected him a lot, and although Velasquez was famous for intense training, fans attribute the toll of his wrestling-based training to his deterioration.

Velasquez was inactive for nearly two years and came back to fight Werdum in UFC 188 held in Mexico City in June 2015. Fighting at high altitude, Velasquez looked really tired by the third round, and Werdum seized the opportunity and defeated him by guillotine choke to become the champion. It was another misfortune to Velasquez, who had expected to have a successful comeback while fighting in front of the Mexicans. However, he again experienced more time on the sidelines because of injuries, and many people wondered if his body was capable of enduring the grueling nature of a prime fighter.

The Final Fight and the Move to Professional Wrestling

Velasquez’s injury woes persisted, and by 2019, he was no longer a regular contender in the UFC. What was supposed to be Velasquez’s last bout in the Octagon was a match against the dangerous Francis Ngannou in February 2019. The match only took 26 seconds, and Ngannou easily defeated Velasquez in the first round by knockout. Despite attempts by Velasquez to explain his loss through injury, especially a knee injury, the fight was the final MMA fight of his career.

Post his career in MMA, Velasquez decided to venture into professional wrestling, much to the surprise of many, but given his background in Mexican Lucha Libre culture, it was expected. It was in 2019 that Velasquez joined Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide, and fans were amazed at how a man of his size could do aerial moves.

Velasquez became popular in lucha libre, and WWE took notice of him, and in October 2019 he signed with the organization. He joined WWE and had his first match against Brock Lesnar, who was his rival in the UFC. While Velasquez could not beat Lesnar in the WWE, his time in WWE kept him relevant and enabled him to move to another form of media. However, that was not to last, and in 2020, Velasquez was let go from WWE, in part due to the COVID-19 crisis and WWE’s budget constraints.

The Arrest and Legal Process in 2022

Velasquez was a young man who, in early 2022, had his life cut short in a most unfortunate way. On February 28, 2022, Velasquez was in a high-speed chase in San Jose, California, where he fired shots at a vehicle that contained Harry Goularte, a man who was accused of molesting a four-year-old relative of Velasquez. It is said that Velasquez got very furious when Goularte was released on bail pending trial, and he decided to act on his own.

As the chase progressed, Velasquez opened fire, shooting at the car, hitting Goularte’s stepfather, who was with him at the time. Velasquez was arrested and charged with attempted murder and other related charges to the use of firearms. The case became a major scandal in the MMA and was widely discussed by the public; on the one hand, people could understand Velasquez’s desire to fight for his wife’s life; on the other hand, people could not but condemn his reckless actions.

Courtroom Struggles and Media Attention

Velasquez’s legal struggle has been quite a public affair since his arrest as he fights for his freedom. His defense lawyers have said that Velasquez was in a state of emotional stress at the time, seeking to defend his family from a man who was a suspected criminal. They have portrayed Velasquez as a family man who made decisions that were emotional rather than rational in a bid to avenge a relative.

In contrast, prosecutors have contended that Velasquez was careless in his actions and that he put the lives of several people in danger. Tried for attempted murder, Velasquez could be sentenced to many years in prison if found guilty.

The case has generated further discussions on issues to do with vigilante justice and the shortcomings of the legal process. Most of the MMA fighters and fans have stood for Velasquez, some of them saying that the justice system failed him by allowing Goularte to be on bail. Current UFC president Dana White as well as many fighters have come out in support of Velasquez and have demanded for the system to be lenient on the fighter.

The trial has been dragged out with several adjournments and hearings in the courtroom. The defense counsel for Velasquez is working to have the charges down or have some of them withdrawn or down to a bargain; however, the verdict is still pending.

Public response and, more importantly, the stress and strain it has on people.

The arrest and trial process have left a very devastating effect on Velasquez and his family. This former fighter, who was once the pride of his country, is now in a fight for the rest of his life, and in a different kind of ring. When Velasquez was a feared figure both mentally and physically in the ring, this legal case has shown the man behind the fighter who is full of pain and suffering.

The general opinion of the public continues to be divided. Some people understand the Velasquez situation and therefore support him, but others think that he was a reckless man who endangered the lives of many innocents. The case has created a lot of debate on justice, mental health, and the correct position of legal procedures in dealing with violent crimes.

What Next for Cain Velasquez?

Currently, Velasquez’s legal case goes on, and thus, his future is unpredictable. If convicted of attempted murder, he could receive a long-term sentence, which would definitely change his life and that of his family. But if the charges are dropped or he gets a lighter sentence, Velasquez might try to start a new life.

Even if Velasquez avoids a serious legal consequence, his days of professional sports appear to be numbered. Given the years of fighting and training, along with the legal issues, it seems unlikely that he will be able to make a full return to MMA or professional wrestling.

However, Velasquez still has influence in the combat sports world, even if he has yet to fight again. If he escapes prison, he has the potential of leading a second life as a coach, a commentator, or a legal and social reformist. His personal encounter with the justice system and his position as a public figure can be a chance for Velasquez to become a voice for change—whether in the justice system or in the protection of children from abuse.

Legacy: In the Cage and in the Court

The story of Cain Velasquez from the UFC octagon to a courtroom is full of success and sorrow. Blessed with incredible power and unrelenting takedown proficiency, Velasquez was once considered one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time; now he has an entirely different fight on his hands, one that will likely shape his legacy. Even if he wins the battle, it remains questionable whether he will be seen more as a cage champion or a man who lost because of the legal fight because of his personal vices and irrational anger.

At the moment, Cain Velasquez is at the crossroads of his career. The appreciation he has gotten from the MMA fraternity is the respect and appreciation he earned through the years of fighting, but it also brings out the reality of the situation. His narrative serves to remind everyone that no matter how strong a warrior, one is never immune to life’s storm. For now, the world will have to watch and wait while the legal system unfolds and the fighter Cain Velasquez, who was once the kingpin of the UFC, is left to deal with those indictments.