🥋 Sundays with Cain – Episode 6 - A ROLL & RUMBLE Fight Co. Exclusive

🎤 Interview by “D-Man,” CTF Inmate Correspondent

You have to breathe to live. Simple, right? But here at CTF, the men are learning there's more to that breath than just survival. They're discovering how to really breathe—how to tap into themselves, and go deeper.

This past Wednesday was a highly anticipated day on the yard. Word had spread: this week’s breathwork class would be an intense full hour of breathing. A challenge. A journey. And judging by the crowd milling around outside the gym, plenty of guys were ready to take it.

The gym door was locked, and the officer usually assigned to open it had been redirected elsewhere. But then, in a rare and powerful moment, the Captain himself came walking across the yard. Not only did he unlock the gym—he sat down at the officer’s desk and quietly observed our entire session.

That act spoke volumes.

I made sure to thank him on my way out. He didn’t have to do that. But it wasn’t the first time. That kind of quiet support is a reflection of the positive energy beginning to shift in this place.

I asked Cain if he had joined us in the session—because when I finally opened my eyes after the deep meditation, I noticed his shirt was soaked in sweat. He laughed and explained there were about 50 men in the session, and he had spent the entire hour running back and forth between them—checking in, offering encouragement, and keeping the energy high.

"It was like a game," he said. "I didn’t want anyone to give up early. I’d see someone shallow breathing, and I’d run over to them. They’d hear or sense me coming, and immediately breathe deeper."

I can only speak for myself, but that session pushed me. Around the 40-minute mark, I was ready to tap out. That is, until Cain tapped me between the eyes and said: "Push through and surrender." So I did. And the reward was waiting for me on the other side — in the quiet journey of my own mind.

Switching gears, I asked Cain about his first couple of weeks here at CTF. I had seen him at a recent car show on the yard, signing autographs and taking photos. I asked him how many pictures he took with the guys that day.

He said, "From 9 AM until 1 in the afternoon—at least 200 or 300."

They sell photo tickets at the prison canteen for two dollars a shot. Anyone with a ticket could take a picture with Cain in front of one of the dozen classic cars on the yard. Fresh off his arrival, Cain stood for hours, taking photos with anyone who asked. Giving his time. That’s who he is.

Knowing his stay won’t be long, I asked him: What’s the first thing you’d do if you walked free tomorrow?

He didn’t hesitate. "Moss Landing. I’d go straight to the water."

Why Moss Landing?

Cain opened up: "My dad used to take us swimming anywhere he could in Arizona—usually irrigation canals. But when we went to visit family in California, he always made sure we went to Moss Landing. There are seals, dolphins, whales... freezing water. My sister hated it. But I loved it. I’d stay in that ocean all day. It’s probably my favorite place on Earth."

A few weeks ago, Cain talked about his plan to move to San Jose and train after graduating from Arizona State. I followed up: Did you get your bachelor’s degree?

"Yes. In Education and Women’s Studies."

Was the gym AKA?

"Yeah."

How long did you train before your first fight?

"Six months."

Who were your first trainers and sparring partners?

"My first striking coaches were Lin Shoutz * and Javier Mendez. I sparred with Paul Buentello and Mike Kyle."

Any inside jokes the guys had about you?

Cain smiled. "Javier used to say, 'If you break your toys, you’ve got nothing left to play with.' That taught me how to train smarter—carry my sparring partners when needed, protect them so I could get my own work in. Play defense a couple rounds. It was a big lesson."

Who’s the next big pro coming out of AKA?

"I was working with a few guys before I left, but if I had to guess—Arbaz Akbar. He’s from India and just picks up everything."

And your first fight?

Cain grinned. "Jesse Fujarczyk, Strikeforce, Fresno (Cain won by TKO in the first round) . My parents were there. I’ve got a lot of family in Fresno. My mom was so happy—giving me fight advice. My Arizona State boys came too. It was the first time I’d seen them since leaving. Just a really good night."

I asked if there was a moment in his career that would stick with him forever. A look, a word, a handshake?

He nodded. "I got taken backstage VIP at a boxing event and met Julio César Chávez. I remember being so happy. That man had a huge impact on me growing up. I was a huge fan."

It was powerful to hear the humility in Cain’s voice—the fan in him, reflecting what so many fans feel when they meet him.

I told Cain that readers had been taking the ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) test and posting their scores. We talked about how breathwork might be one of the tools that helps people process their childhood trauma.

So I asked: What will be your first purpose-driven action when you leave prison?

Cain answered clearly: "I want to start groups or host seminars on breathwork. And I want to introduce people—those who are willing—to plant medicine."

So I asked him point-blank: If John and Heather at Roll & Rumble rented a venue and lined up reservations for a ‘Breathing with Cain’ seminar in Reno, Nevada—after you’re off parole—would you go out there and teach it?

Cain didn’t blink. "YES."

We closed with a fan question from Iron Circle BJJ: If you could train just one martial art for the rest of your life—only one—what would it be and why?

Cain didn’t hesitate: "Wrestling. It teaches you everything—efficiency, relaxation, leverage, intensity. It’s the most complex martial art."

And with that—we wrap another chapter in the journey.

Thanks for reading. Keep sharing. Keep breathing. Keep growing.

That’s a wrap for Episode 6. If you’re getting something out of these, hit the share button. Let’s keep showing the world what Sundays with Cain is all about: breath, purpose, and legacy.

#SundaysWithCain #RollNRumble #CainVelasquez #Breathwork #PrisonToPurpose #FightLife #WarriorSpirit #JesseFujarczyk #PaulBuentello #MikeKyle #ArbazAkbar

• Editors Note: Try as we might, we could find no info on this person. Are we spelling the name correctly or does anybody out there in the ether know who this person might be? If so… Comment Below. Thank you.
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