At ROLL & RUMBLE Fight Co., we believe in loyalty, honor, and standing up for what’s right—even when it’s hard. That’s why we are proud to serve not only as an advocate for Cain Velasquez, but also as a platform where Cain can speak directly to his family, friends, and fans.
"Sundays with Cain" is a space for truth, connection, and reflection—where Cain shares his story, his thoughts, and his heart with the people who continue to stand beside him.
This is "Sundays with Cain."
Sundays with Cain – Episode 1
A ROLL & RUMBLE Fight Co. Exclusive: Interview by “D-Man,” CTF Soledad Inmate Correspondent
I’ve been incarcerated for 10 years, and I’ve worked every one of those 3,650 days to become a better man. Recently, I was given an unexpected and life-changing opportunity — the chance to attend a breathing class led by former UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez.
That may sound simple, but it’s been anything but. The experience is nearly indescribable. Just today, I completed a 20-minute holotropic breathing session that left me in a state of full-body tingling and what I can only describe as an out-of-body spiritual connection with the spirits of my deceased loved ones. I'm not alone — many of the incarcerated men here at CTF (Correctional Training Facility) are experiencing the same level of transformation.
Five days a week, 20 to 50 men gather in the gym, and Cain is there — showing up, leading from the front. This is a class he started on his own, and it will continue long after he’s gone. It’s not just breathwork. It’s a movement. And while he’s here, I asked if I could sit down with him every Sunday to ask a few questions, get his story, and share it with the outside world. He agreed.
Q: When did you first start practicing holotropic breathing, and why? Cain said he began in 2020, originally through an interest in plant medicine. Friends told him about a breathing technique that could have similar effects. That led him to Wim Hof, one of the most well-known teachers of breathwork. Cain quickly began incorporating the practice into his life and started leading small groups in a park — only six or seven people at a time back then.
Today, he says breathwork and plant medicine have completely changed his life, and they’ve become his new passion.
Q: What do you personally get out of this practice? Cain replied simply: "Gratitude." And the ability to "share something that helps other people."
I can testify — the impact he’s having here at CTF in Soledad is massive. Cain carries an aura that makes men believe they can be better versions of themselves. He gives his time freely to anyone who wants even a moment with him.
Q: You're locked up with people from all walks of life. Has this experience changed how you view fighting, freedom, or your life’s purpose? Cain said he doesn’t see fighting any differently. But when it comes to freedom: “Freedom is internal. If you can feel freedom here in prison, you can feel it anywhere.”
When I asked about life’s purpose, he said this experience has: “Re-solidified my purpose of helping others through plant medicine and breathwork.”
We shifted to something lighter.
Q: If you could build the ultimate heavyweight fighter using pieces of the greatest heavyweights in MMA history, what would your ‘Frankenstein fighter’ look like? Cain smiled and said his “zombie fighter” would have:
• The chin of Joey Beltran
• The hands of Francis Ngannou
• The wrestling/grappling of Daniel Cormier
• The leg kicks of Alistair Overeem
• And, with a big grin, the cardio of Cain Velasquez
Q: You helped put AKA (American Kickboxing Academy) on the map. What made that team so special at its peak — with guys like Khabib, DC, Rockhold, and yourself? Cain said: “Everyone had faith in each other. We all had the same dream, and we knew who we were — and what we were capable of.”
Q: Who was the alpha in the room? Cain laughed: “The alpha changed every day. And that’s what we were fighting for — to be that guy.”
Q: Are there any untold stories from those AKA days? Cain smiled again and said he’s shared this before, but most people still don’t know: “DC and Rockhold were daily triggers for each other. They would go off on each other verbally almost every single day.” As he said it, I could see the Champ mentally drift back to those days — back in that gym, with his brothers.
I thanked him for being such a good sport and taking the time to give his fans a peek into both what’s new… and what’s never been forgotten.
Until next time, this is your ROLL & RUMBLE Beat Reporter “D-Man”, signing off from CTF Soledad, CA.
Got a question for Cain? DM us here or on Instagram or drop a comment — and maybe your question will be featured in next week's Sundays with Cain.
