Various: Former UFC Champ Trains w/ WWE, Alexa Bliss Gallery, Birthdays

Former UFC Champion Cain Velasquez at WWE Performance Center

Former two time UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez trained at the WWE Performance Center this week and was also in the crowd at last night’s NXT TV tapings.

Velasquez actually defeated Brock Lesnar to win his first UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 121 in 2010. His last UFC fight was at UFC 200 in 2016, where he beat Ronda Rousey’s husband Travis Browne.

WWE.com posted this article:

Two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez trains at WWE Performance Center

One of the greatest heavyweights in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship trained alongside NXT Superstars this week at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla.

Two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez stepped inside the ring to learn techniques under WWE PC coach Norman Smiley and participated in a session of DDP Yoga led by WWE Hall of Famer Diamond Dallas Page. Velasquez also worked out in the WWE PC’s weight room and attended last night’s NXT tapings at Full Sail Live.

The 6-foot-1 Velasquez, who sports a 14-2 record inside the Octagon, famously defeated Universal Champion Brock Lesnar as well as Junior Dos Santos to secure his two reigns with the UFC Heavyweight crown.

A product of the acclaimed American Kickboxing Academy, Velasquez holds an astonishing number of records among the UFC Heavyweight ranks, including the most knockouts and the highest significant strike percentage in the history of the heavyweight division.

The UFC icon, a lifelong fan of WWE and Mexican lucha libre, praised the athletes and atmosphere of the Performance Center.

“My experience here has been amazing,” he said. “I’m just looking forward to being here and learning as much as I can. I’ve been a fan of the sport since I was a little kid, and now I get to participate in it.”

Velasquez, of course, is not the first MMA legend to walk through the doors of the WWE PC, with the likes of NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler training at the Performance Center and Raw Superstar Ronda Rousey having worked out there prior to making her WWE in-ring debut at WrestleMania.

Alexa Bliss Photo Gallery

WWE posted a photo gallery called “The evolution of Alexa Bliss” looking at her evolution since her NXT debut in 2013.

On July 24, 2013, Alexa Bliss made her very first appearance on WWE NXT TV. Five years later, Little Miss Bliss has done it all. Look back on Alexa’s amazing evolution in these photos that chart her rise from glitter to gold.

Birthdays

Birthdays:

July 18 – Mandy Rose (27)
July 18 – Joey Mercury (39)
July 18 – Al Snow (55)

July 19 – Ho Ho Lun (31)
July 19 – Jinder Mahal (32)
July 19 – Tony Mamaluke (41)
July 19 – Jeremy Borash (45)