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Cain Velasquez is UFC’s Key to Unlocking Mexico | 5thRound.com – UFC News, Strikeforce and MMA News, UFC 121 Play-by-Play Results

Cain Velasquez is UFC’s Key to Unlocking Mexico
Written by Tom Ngo
October 22nd, 2010
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This Saturday at UFC 121, Cain Velasquez will look to become the first Mexican heavyweight champion in fighting history when he challenges reigning king Brock Lesnar inside the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

UFC president Dana White repeated those same words, almost verbatim, in the event’s official press release. Spike TV also used a similar line to introduce Velasquez in the debut episode of “UFC Primetime: Lesnar vs. Velasquez.”

The only problem is, Cain was born in Salinas, California – which would technically make him a Mexican-American. Although the difference is slight, it’s a rather significant one when referring to first generation immigrants whose parents sacrificed everything for the unknown.

“Something spoke to me. Something in my heart told me I had to do it. There was more opportunity in the United States. All I cared about was my family not going through the same hardships that I endured and that they didn’t lack anything,” Cain’s father, Efrain Velasquez, said of hopping the Mexican boarder.

Although a familiar – yet financially limited – life was available to him, Efrain opted to start anew with a physically demanding job as a lettuce loader. For hours on end, he would stack 30-50 pound boxes for minimal funds just so his offspring could pursue their American dreams, whatever they may have been.

“My dad wanted to come here for a better life for him and his family. His whole dream was to come and live here in the U.S. I always saw my dad going back and forth to California (from Arizona) by himself and working for us – I’ve always known that,” Cain said of his father’s selfless ways.

“I didn’t put it all together then, but as I was getting older I knew what he was doing for us.”

To disregard the “-American” tag from Cain belittles his dad’s arduous plight to provide better options for not only Cain, but his entire familia. It’s not as though Cain was miraculously discovered on Mexico’s dirt-paved roads and fortuitously found his way onto the Octagon’s canvas.

If his father wouldn’t have risked everything in 1975, it could be said with absolute certainly that Cain’s big brown eyes would never have seen this multi-million dollar opportunity.

On the flipside, it’s understandable why the UFC brass chose to spotlight the MEXICAN in Cain. Their insatiable hunger for achieving global dominance has been well documented, and having a charismatic figure an entire nation can rally behind would certainly help their efforts. The NFL is attempting the same thing with New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez – although he no habla Español until recently…

Cain is currently living the American dream all migrants wish for when coming over. That’s why it’s important the “-American” moniker be attached everywhere Cain goes. One thing’s for sure, he’ll be carrying it into the Octagon with him on Saturday.

“I definitely got my work ethic from [my dad] and my mom,” Cain admitted. “It’s just all the hard work I’ve put in when I first got into this sport, [it came from them]. I just can’t wait to prove all the hard work has paid off.

“The only goal I have is to be the UFC champion. To get that belt and hold that belt. It’s like having my dreams come true.”

Some might say, a Mexican-American dream come true.

[The8thPlague]

"Mexican-Americans they get up early, but they don't want to, but they have to, so they did it real slow."

[v3xi]

I am not Mexican or American and I am really offended by all of this. Dana thinks all the other little people on this planet are just pawns to make money off of, he has no respect for anyone or anything besides acquiring more money. He is basically a CEO of a large corporation, he is not good for MMA in any way.

[Daellusx]

Originally Posted by v3xi

I am not Mexican or American and I am really offended by all of this. Dana thinks all the other little people on this planet are just pawns to make money off of, he has no respect for anyone or anything besides acquiring more money. He is basically a CEO of a large corporation, he is not good for MMA in any way.

That's odd. I am Mexican and came to the U.S with my family when I was 7 years old so I have lived most of my life in the U.S and I am not offended in the least by this marketing ploy. To be honest I actually find myself cheering for Cain because I can relate to what he is going through. My dad went through the same hardships as Cain's dad so that my brothers and I could pursue a better life here. Yeah it's cheesy and kind of cheap but it does give some of us more of a reason to cheer for Cain and to have a genuine interest in seeing "one of us" succeed.

Not sure what to make the rest of your comment about Dana not respecting us little people though. I guess you take the storylines that they try to build a little too seriously? Maybe you should take a step back and accept that the storylines are just that, storylines. They arnt meant to be taken too seriously. They are just meant to play to the emotions of people so that they become vested in one fighter or the other. It's no different than watching a movie, reading a book, or watching WWE. They create a story line to draw you in and make you become emotionally attached to the characters.

[Otomosix]

Originally Posted by v3xi

I am not Mexican or American and I am really offended by all of this. Dana thinks all the other little people on this planet are just pawns to make money off of, he has no respect for anyone or anything besides acquiring more money. He is basically a CEO of a large corporation, he is not good for MMA in any way.

That pretty much describes 99% of all CEO and corporations in the world. The difference between Dana White and most other CEO's to me is that every now and then Dana makes me laugh (for better or worse). Oh, and as far as I know, he doesn't golf.

[KillahKimbo]

Cain is like the "Mexican" version of Marcus Davis.

[Otomosix]

Originally Posted by KillahKimbo

Cain is like the "Mexican" version of Marcus Davis.

I don't even know what that means.

[KillahKimbo]

Originally Posted by Otomosix

I don't even know what that means.

Cain is being promoted like hes living in Mexico and grew up there for most if his life when he was born in CA and lives in the US, which makes him American. Marcus Davis acts like he came here on a ship straight from Ireland.

[Otomosix]

Originally Posted by KillahKimbo

Cain is being promoted like hes living in Mexico and grew up there for most if his life when he was born in CA and lives in the US, which makes him American. Marcus Davis acts like he came here on a ship straight from Ireland.

Okay, that makes sense. But to be fair, Cain's dad was a legal immigrant from Mexico so I do see some relevance targeting the Mexican (and Mexican-American) audience.

I think it's kinda cool that his parents met in the farm fields. "Nice cabbages you have there..."

[Daellusx]

Originally Posted by Otomosix

Okay, that makes sense. But to be fair, Cain's dad was a legal immigrant from Mexico so I do see some relevance targeting the Mexican (and Mexican-American) audience.

I think it's kinda cool that his parents met in the farm fields. "Nice cabbages you have there..."

Is that a banana in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

No, it's just a banana.