🥋 Sundays with Cain - Episode 2 - A ROLL & RUMBLE Fight Co. Exclusive

I’ve been counting down the days to my one day off from my assigned prison job. Why? Because Sunday at 2:30 p.m., the gym transforms into something extraordinary. That’s when I step into Cain Velasquez’s holotropic breathing group—a rare, powerful blend of healing, clarity, and peace. But this week’s session? It was even more than that. It was unforgettable.

Not only did I get that deep, euphoric rush that comes with the breathwork, but I also got to sit down with Cain again—and this time, he was glowing. Earlier in the week, I saw him flash a smile after coming out of the Captain’s office. He had just received the official paperwork making his group recognized on paper. That’s huge. It means his breathwork program can now be expanded—his goal being to take this healing work across the entire prison system.

 Sundays with Cain – Episode 2  

When we sat down, I asked him the first thing on my mind. "When do you get to do the breathwork yourself, Cain? You’re always leading the group. He said he practices alone in his cell—but his hope is to train someone to lead sessions so he can participate more often with us.

"For people out there who’ve never heard of holotropic breathing," I asked, "what is it, and how does it work? " Cain told me: “You're flooding your body with oxygen, which causes your brain to release DMT naturally. The oxygen heals the body—and the journey heals the soul. You get understanding… like a voice telling you it’s OK. That life is OK. You find acceptance, and you let go.”

I asked if he could recall one moment in particular that stuck with him. He paused and said: “Yeah. I remember the first time I realized—this is what life’s about. To feel joy and love. This is why we do it all.” He didn’t say it out loud, but I could feel it: all the blood, sweat, sacrifice, and pain—that moment of peace gave it meaning. And I get it now. You can’t fully understand what he means until you go through it yourself.

I switched gears and brought up something from last week. "Last time, you mentioned a dream shared between you, Khabib, DC, and Rockhold. What’s the dream now?" Cain didn’t hesitate: “To witness the healing in other people’s faces—to see them get closer to who they really are. To see that spark when realization hits.”

I asked, "Is anyone else sharing this mission with you?" He nodded: “Some of the guys I trained with before. It’s like brothers in battle becoming brothers in healing.” Then he said something that hit me deep: "We’ve got to find a way to get this group into every prison." I said, “In California?” He looked at me and said, “No. The whole country!”

Next, I asked "how he sees the dreams of the other men here at CTF Soledad." “I’ve met a lot of men who are living life as fully as possible—and that’s what we’re supposed to do.”

Then I hit him with something personal: "If NIL (NIL Rights: A student-athlete's name, image, and likeness are their personal assets, and they have the right to use them for commercial purposes.) had existed back in your college days, would it have kept you at Arizona State longer? Were the Olympics ever part of the dream?" Cain answered immediately: “No way. I wasn’t interested in the Olympics. I left because I needed to raise the stakes… get closer to death, you could say.“ He added, “I was just so angry back then. It was about hurting people—not gold medals." There was more behind that statement, but I let it rest. That one’s for another day.

Of course, I had to ask about today’s heavyweight division "Who’s the most dangerous heavyweight right now?" Without pause: “Jon Jones.” "How would he match up against you in your prime?" Cain just smiled: “It’d be a good fight… that’s all I’ve got to say about that.”

I wrapped with this: "You've faced more adversity than most—inside and outside the cage. What’s kept you grounded?" Cain said, “I try not to take anything too seriously. I keep learning the lessons life throws my way—and I pull wisdom from every storm.”

My final question came from a fan who read last week’s post: "If the young Cain who first stepped into the UFC Octagon could sit across from the man you are today—what would they say to each other?" He thought for a moment, then replied: “No words. Just a smile and a handshake.”

We stood, nodded, and each returned to our cells. I sat on my bunk thinking about that last answer. It stuck with me. The Cain who walked into the Octagon all those years ago and the Cain I talk to now—they don’t live in the same world anymore... and that, my friends, is growth.

That’s it for this week. Like, share, and drop your question for Cain in the comments—maybe you’ll see it featured next Sunday. Until next time… This is your