Cain Velasquez: ‘Things Could Get Interesting’ if Daniel Cormier Wins Heavyweight Title at UFC 226

Cain Velasquez will be the first one to assist Daniel Cormier in his preparation for Stipe Miocic at UFC 226, but the former champion still has plans to return to the top of the heavyweight division.

On Friday, the Las Vegas-based promotion announced that Cormier, the reigning 205-pound champion, would challenge Miocic for the heavyweight belt in a super fight at UFC 226 on July 7. Cormier and Velasquez are longtime training partners at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif. “DC” compiled a 13-0 record as a heavyweight but elected to move to light heavyweight, partially out of respect to Velasquez, who was at or near the top of the division when Cormier entered the UFC.

“Like always, I’m gonna be in the gym everyday to help my brother [Daniel Cormier] become the next heavyweight champ at [UFC 226],” Velasquez recently wrote on Twitter. “Once he wins, things could get interesting.”

Like always, I'm gonna be in the gym everyday to help my brother @dc_mma become the next heavyweight champ at #UFC226. Once he wins, things could get interesting. #AndNew #WeAreAKA #GonnaGetMyBeltBack

— Cain Velasquez (@cainmma) January 27, 2018

Velasquez added the hashtag #GonnaGetMyBeltBack at the conclusion of the post. A two-time former heavyweight titlist, Velasquez has not competed since a first-round stoppage victory over Travis Browne at UFC 200 in July 2016. The Mexican-American star underwent back surgery early last year and has been on the shelf since then. However, Cormier recently revealed that Velasquez has been back in the gym at AKA.

Even if Cormier defeats Miocic to claim heavyweight gold, it’s quite possible that “DC” will be out of MMA before Velasquez gets to another title shot. Cormier, who turns 39 in two months, recently revealed on ”The MMA Hour” that he plans to be retired by March 2019.