Cain Velasquez is excited about his bout at UFC 104 and is eager to get better.
Life has been hectic for Cain Velasquez lately.
After defeating Cheick Kongo at UFC 99, Velasquez has been adjusting to life as a father, watching his popularity as a fighter reach new levels, and entrenching himself as a latino role model for kids all over the world.
But despite all the various new obstacles he has faced, the Cali-based fighter has stayed focused on getting better and evolving within the sport of MMA.
Originally, he was scheduled to fight in a number one contender match against Shane Carwin. The winner would get his title shot against Brock Lesnar for the UFC Heavyweight title.
But for one reason or another, the UFC opted to scratch that fight and give that title shot directly to Carwin.
That decision didn’t phase Velasquez.
“At first it was a bit confusing. But I can’t really put a lot of thought into it. They (UFC) gave me a new opponent and now I have to get ready to fight him,” said Velasquez.
That new opponent is UFC newcomer and former IFL champion Ben Rothwell (30-6) who brings Velasquez his toughest match to date in his young career.
“I think I am [climbing] the ladder of the Heavyweight division in the UFC. The fights are going to get tougher and tougher. That is pretty much what they (UFC) are doing now,” Velasquez stated. “I think Ben is the best well rounded fighter that I have been allowed to fight.”
Rothwell has been waiting for this opportunity to fight in the UFC for a long time and Velasquez completely understands that.
“Because of his experience I just don’t think he is going to give up. I think it’s going to be a tough fight. It’s definitely going to be a war. That’s what I’m expecting from him.”
Velasquez has been doing his research for what he calls “getting ready for a different kind of fighter that I haven’t fought before”. He has been analyzing Rothwell’s past IFL fights and particularly Rothwell’s loss to Andrei Arlovski in Affliction.
“He did take a little bit of punishment but he was always in the fight. I just watched his little [tendencies] and things he does in the fight.”
But besides doing his homework on Rothwell, Velasquez has been putting in hours of work at the American Kickboxing Academy.
“I’ve been working on everything. I need help on everything. My wrestling can get better, my jiu-jitsu can get better, and my boxing/stand up can get better too,“ said Velasquez.
Velasquez has been working hard at AKA in order to correct errors he has committed before in his brief MMA career specifically his victory at UFC 99.
“I think I have learned from my mistakes from the last fight. And I don’t think you will see that again,” stated Velasquez.
Rothwell has voiced his plan of looking to finish the KO that Kongo was unable to accomplish.
But Velasquez just has one thing to say about that. “We will see what happens on Saturday”.
