Following his championship win against Junior Dos Santos, UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez spoke to Fox News Latino about making history, what's next and his controversial tattoo.
FOX NEWS LATINO: I’m going to call you Champ again, because you’re the champ again. How does it feel to get the belt back, and did you ever have any doubt that you wouldn’t gain the belt back?
CAIN VELASQUEZ: No doubt. I mean, you can’t have a doubt. You need to have that confidence in your head the whole time when you’re getting ready, when you’re out there fighting. I mean you really can’t think of those negative thoughts. It definitely does feel really good to get the belt back, it’s good to avenge the loss as well.
You know, you’re a fighter. You know, yes, you’re injured or whatever, you’re going to go out there and try to do the best performance that you can.
FNL: Let’s talk about that, because your first match-up with Junior Dos Santos didn’t go that well for you. You weren’t in the greatest of shape, you were coming out of a surgery, you had hurt your knee. Not to insult you or anything, but you didn’t look like the Cain Velasquez that went on that tear, before you defended your title.
VELASQUEZ: Yeah.
FNL: Was that at all a vindication?
VELASQUEZ: Yeah, it avenges the loss. Especially the first fight, having issues, but what are you going to do? You know, you’re a fighter. You know, yes, you’re injured or whatever, you’re going to go out there and try to do the best performance that you can. I was glad that I was healthy, a hundred percent, and everything going in was good.
FNL: People are looking forward to that third matchup with Dos Santos. Are you looking forward to it? Is that something you know you have to do?
VELASQUEZ: Eventually, for sure. I mean, he has to win, just prove himself again, just like I did the first time.
FNL: Alistair Overeem is somebody that is coming down the road. What do you think of him?
VELASQUEZ: Good fighter, he’s been in the top for a while now. He’s big and strong. As far as an all-around fighter, he’s one of the guys who’s always been there. He’s at the top of his game.
FNL: He picked you to win your last fight. It seems that he has an understanding of how dangerous you are. Does that worry you at all?
VELASQUEZ: No, I just have to do what I have to do, you know? I got to go out there and perform. That’s what it comes down to.
FNL: Daniel Cormier did really well in Strikeforce. He’s coming over. It looks like he’s going to move down to challenge John Jones [after he fights Frank Mir at heavyweight] because he expects you to have the title for a long time. There was some speculation, Dana White was saying he thought he could get you guys to fight. You said you’re never going to fight Daniel Cormier. Is that still the case?
VELASQUEZ: Yes.
FNL: At the last press conference, Dana addressed your “Brown Pride” tattoo, which for some reason offends some people. Why do they keep talking about it? What do you have to tell them?
VELASQUEZ: I don’t know why. The only thing I can say is the reason why I got it is I’m proud of my heritage. I’m proud of where my parents came from, my dad crossing the border to come to the U.S. It just means Mexican pride. So, that’s what it is.
Follow Victor Garcia on Twitter @MrVicGarcia.
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