Cain Velasquez issues statement on signing with WWE, leaving UFC
It was recently reported that former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez had left the sport of MMA for pro wrestling, and had signed a contract with the WWE. Today Velasquez addressed his fans with a post on social media, and officially announced his retirement from the UFC organization.
To the UFC, my family, friends, and all the fans, thank you for the past 11 years. Thank you to all my coaches, teammates and agents. I am so blessed to have been able to have a career doing something I absolutely love. I knew from the time I was a junior in college I wanted to be a fighter and after graduating from college, I set off on my journey of becoming a fighter with the goal of being UFC Heavyweight champion. There are few people in this world that can say they have achieved what I have, and I am forever grateful for the opportunities and position I held being a part of the UFC. With my official retirement from the UFC, it’s time for the next chapter.
A year ago, when I went to my first WWE show, I fell back in love with a sport that I had watched and participated in since I was a child. From that moment, I have been doing a crash course on all things that relate to pro wrestling. I’ve been training at different gyms, going to shows and watching more matches then (sic) I would like to admit, but I can honestly say I eat, sleep and breath (sic) wrestling now. The contract is signed and I’m on my way to my next goal which is Universal Champion.
WWE Universe, thank you for welcoming me with open arms.
Tweet from Cain Velasquez below:
@ufc @WWE Thank you. Muchas gracias. #WWECrownJewel pic.twitter.com/k8axrZMRnW
— Cain Velasquez (@cainmma) October 14, 2019
Velasquez, 37, is a former two-time UFC heavyweight champion, including a title win over fellow WWE star and former UFC champion Brock Lesnar. Velazquez knocked Lesnar out in the first round at UFC 121 nine years ago.
At WWE Crown Jewel, WWE Champion Lesnar will defend his title against Velasquez, except this time it will be under pro wrestling rules and not MMA.
The event takes place at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, streaming live on WWE Network on Thursday, Oct. 31, at 8 p.m. AST/1 p.m. ET.
I’ve defeated @BrockLesnar before. That was business, now this is about family.
Business became personal. Ya le gané a @BrockLesnar. Eso fué negocio pero ahora…se trata de familia. @Turki_alalshikh #WWECrownJewel pic.twitter.com/s3qU6jae5H— Cain Velasquez (@cainmma) October 14, 2019
