Cain Velasquez Signs New Eight-Fight UFC Contract

UFC heavweight champion Cain Velasquez

Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez Extends Contract with UFC

Following the UFC’s release of his American Kickboxing Academy captain and teammate, John Fitch, UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has signed a new eight-fight contract with the promotion.

While passionately depicting to reporters how far the UFC has come since first being purchased by Zuffa, UFC President Dana White revealed news of the Velasquez deal at the UFC 157 media scrum for this weekend’s groundbreaking first female fight in the octagon between women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and challenger Liz Carmouche.

"Obviously we're passionate about this sport, obviously we're passionate about the UFC brand, we f---ing own it, OK?" White said. "We always try to do the right thing. We always try to do the right thing. We pay guys more than what their contract says we have to pay them. We just did, I have three fights left with Cain Velasquez. We just signed a new eight-fight deal with Cain Velasquez. We re-signed him. I didn't have to do that. He deserved it, and we did it."

Velasquez has fought for the UFC since 2008. His debut came against Brad Morris at UFC 83, winning via first-round TKO. He steadily climbed the ranks over the next two years, winning five more UFC fights before dominating Brock Lesnar into a first-round TKO stoppage at UFC 121 to claim the heavyweight title. The belt would not stay in his possession for long. His first title defense would end with him being knocked out in the first round by Junior Dos Santos at UFC on FOX 1. Velasquez would return to bloody up Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva with a first-round knockout at UFC 146 to secure a title fight rematch with Dos Santos at UFC 155. The NCAA All-American wrestler controlled the entirety of that fight, brutalizing Dos Santos with a mix of take downs and punches toward a unanimous decision win, earning back the heavyweight title.

His next test will be a rematch with Silva at UFC 160. That show will takes place May 25 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and airs on pay-per-view.

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