UFC Star Cain Velasquez Interested In WWE Run

Brock Lesnar's heavyweight conquerer eyes sports entertainment switch.

cain velasquez UFC 200
John Locher/AP

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez could become the latest mixed martial arts star to cross over into professional wrestling, per the man himself on Ariel Helwani's MMA Show.

Velasquez told Helwani that he'd been a WWE fan since he was a kid, and that his head was turned after visiting the Performance Center last year. "It's an opportunity that I wanted to do," he said, "and I would like to work with them even more so in the future," though the UFC remains his primary focus for now.

A heavyweight fighting phenom in his younger days, Cain raced to a 9-0 record to start his career, including a resounding TKO victory over current WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar at UFC 121. He has been besieged by injuries over the past few years, but is currently set to face the heavy-hitting Francis Ngannou at UFC On ESPN 1 on 17 February. It'll be his first fight in two-and-a-half years.

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If Velasquez does eventually switch sports, he'll join Lesnar and Ronda Rousey as the third former UFC Champion on WWE's roster. A disappointing performance against Ngannou could expedite that process.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.