Why did the UFC sign Cain Velasquez ?

[Trabaho]

AK had top fighters in their gym who competed in the UFC, like Fitch and Koschek. And the owner said Cain is the best guy in his whole gym. So basically by reputable reference.

 

[Trabaho]

Also probably signed him for 10/10, they had nothing to lose. Maybe even 5/5 back then.

15.5 Was hist first fight, 3rd was 27. It's on Google.

 

[CatchThisFade]

I'm seriously disappointed in sherdog, y'all seriously don't remember?

 

[Bearknuckle]

They tried to do the same with CM Punk

 

[mudrubble]

Different times, UFC was even deader back then compared to modern dead UFC. They were looking for fighters in homeless shelters and gay bars

And the homeless guys never panned out.

 

[mudrubble]

I don't know about that, I never saw talent scouts in the places I frequented back then.

It's crazy because they were undercover - posing as homeless and gay men. Nobody knew who they were...

 

[Fedorgasm]

They need someone named Cain so they could set up the undertaker's brother storyline

 

[acannxr]

His record was 2-0 against a couple of unknown guys and the UFC took him in.
I'm glad they did because 2006-2013 Cain was one of the greatest HWs to ever fight. Just curious if anyone knows what the UFC saw in Cain after only two fights ?

View attachment 983606

Three main reasons:

1) Gym connection; he had a lot of UFC fighters/coaches vouching for him.

2) Scouting; he fought in two recognizable promotions and the UFC could probably see his talent (which would line up with what his UFC teammates/coaches were telling the UFC).

3) Divisions that lack depth (Heavyweight, Flyweight, WMMA) have lower thresholds for hiring (and higher thresholds for firing), whereas a Lightweight/Welterweight may have needed more fights than Cain did to get a UFC contract.

 

[GearSolidMetal]

Just curious if anyone knows what the UFC saw in Cain after only two fights ?

The UFC saw a young college wrestler decimate two opponents, both in the 1st round, by TKOs.

And Cain destroyed his next three opponents in the UFC, the first two in the 1st round, and all by TKO.

So yeah, heavyweight has always been the most shallow division. With only a few impressive performances a young fighter can be in the UFC and then rocket up the rankings.

And the UFC prefers to grab young fighters and lock them into contracts before other orgs lock them into contract that lasts half their careers.

 

[HP_Nut]

People who were knowledgeable about MMA were already hyping up Cain, he had a ton of hype despite having so few career fights at that point. He was considered a "can't miss" prospect despite so early in his career. Also, it's the HW division, was & is, & forever will be the most shallow division. UFC once gave Eilers (RIP) a title shot coming off a brutal TKO loss

 

[mahavishnunj]

It's crazy because they were undercover - posing as homeless and gay men. Nobody knew who they were...

Interesting, I was doing the same thing...

 

[Mammothman]

Probably to the people he knew and wrestling credentials, he probably was a Khamzat level prosepct back then.

 

[don't ask]

Matt Mitrione got signed with an 0-0 pro record

CM Punk got signed without ever being in a fight in his life.

 

[don't ask]

It's crazy because they were undercover - posing as homeless and gay men. Nobody knew who they were...

It was basically the second Newport Sex Scandal as agents went deep to find talented fighters.

 

[MartinGibson86]

The narrative was he was already good enough to beat reigning champ Couture upon his debut.

 

[campbecc]

They probably actually watched him instead of just looking at his record.

 

[Doctor Grudge]

National champion in wrestling, All-American x2 when he went to D1, heavyweight, fought in big shows, fights at a major camp, American, Mexican descent.

Checks every thing they wanted at the time.

 

[Sgt Smith]

National champion in wrestling, All-American x2 when he went to D1, heavyweight, fought in big shows, fights at a major camp, American, Mexican descent.

Checks every thing they wanted at the time.

 

[mudrubble]

It was basically the second Newport Sex Scandal as agents went deep to find talented fighters.

Headed up by the Indian-American head of their talent department - Baldeep Singh

 

[mudrubble]

Interesting, I was doing the same thing...

Holy fuck..... were you the one with the Freddie Mercury moustache? In the dark corner??