Velasquez issues lengthy statement on UFC departure: ‘It’s time for the next chapter’
“With my official retirement from the UFC, it’s time for the next chapter.”
Last week, it was reported that former two-time UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez had retired from MMA to pursue a career in professional wrestling.
The 37-year-old signed with the WWE and is expected to take on Brock Lesnar at WWE Crown Jewel on October 31. Velasquez holds a TKO victory over Lesnar from 2010, when he battered the wrestling powerhouse in the UFC 121 main event to capture the heavyweight title.
Velasquez, who made his professional wrestling debut earlier this year at AAA TripleMania, released a lengthy statement on social media explaining why he decided to retire from the UFC to embark on this new and exciting chapter of his career.
@ufc @WWE Thank you. Muchas gracias. #WWECrownJewel pic.twitter.com/k8axrZMRnW
— Cain Velasquez (@cainmma) October 14, 2019
“To the UFC, my family, friends, and all the fans, thank you for the past 11 years,” Velasquez posted on Monday. “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.”
Velasquez retires from mixed martial arts with two UFC world titles to his name and a professional record of 14-3. The American Kickboxing Academy protege will take on Lesnar at WWE Crown Jewel on Oct. 31 at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.