Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez hasn’t fought in over six years, but his recent appearance at the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano card immediately stirred up interest about a potential comeback to MMA.
While injuries derailed huge parts of his career, Velasquez is widely regarded as one of the most talented heavyweights of all time. After a knockout loss to Francis Ngannou in 2019, the now 43-year-old veteran decided to call it a career as he turned his attention towards professional wrestling
at the time.
More recently, Velasquez was all over the headlines after he served an almost 11-month sentence in prison following a no-contest plea on attempted murder charges when he engaged in a car chase while shooting at a car containing Harry Goularte, a man accused of molesting the fighter’s young son. Velasquez received overwhelming support from the fight community and even UFC CEO Dana White wrote a letter on his behalf that was sent to the courts when Velasquez was first arrested in 2022.
Now back home with his family, Velasquez is free to return to fighting if he chooses, but admits it would take a lot to get him back in the cage again.
“No wish list as a person [I would want to fight] but if the money’s right then the money’s right but it has to be really good,” Velasquez told Josh Thomson on his podcast. “It has to be really damn good for me to do that.”
Velasquez was adamant that a potential return to action has nothing to do with potential name value when it comes to opposition or landing a marquee spot on a major fight card.
To put him back in a training camp and prepare for a fight, Velasquez would be primarily focused on the money he’s earning and he doubts there’s any promotion willing to put forth the kind of offer that would make him return to action.
“The money has to make me want to do it,” Velasquez said. “Because I’ve said this before, I don’t want to do it. I have other interests now. But the money really has to make me want to do it and I don’t think anybody’s willing to pay that.”
After he was released on bail and allowed to return home following his initial arrest, Velasquez spent a lot of time coaching and mentoring young fighters at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif. That’s the same gym Velasquez called home throughout his fighting career. As much as he loves helping the next generation of fighters, he doesn’t see coaching as his biggest future endeavor either.
“For me, I get so into what I’m doing that it doesn’t do it for me anymore,” Velasquez said about coaching. “There’s a part to it I really do love, to see the growth and the good times and even just the learning experience, the hard times through somebody else’s eyes. Watching their life lessons through this sport happen. But I’ve had now other interests are calling me.”
