Back in Anaheim, California, on October 23, 2010, UFC 121 delivered one of the most defining heavyweight clashes in MMA history. Cain Velasquez dismantled Brock Lesnar with precision and composure, finishing him by TKO at 4:12 of the opening round to seize the UFC heavyweight crown. The performance was a masterclass, one that highlighted Velasquez’s brilliance while simultaneously exposing Lesnar’s vulnerabilities in MMA. So, when Lesnar’s name didn’t come up years later in a very different conversation, it wasn’t exactly shocking.

Appearing alongside Ian McCall on the Basement Talk podcast last year in October, which was reshared recently, in his home while he was serving house arrest, ‘Cardio Cain’ was pressed on a curious subject—what was the hardest punch he’d ever absorbed in his career? The hosts clearly expected some heavy names, and Cain Velasquez didn’t disappoint. But while Francis Ngannou naturally made the list, Brock Lesnar was nowhere to be found. Instead, Velasquez named Ngannou and one other man as the sources for the heaviest hands he’d ever felt inside the cage.

Francis Ngannou left an impression on him

“For me in the fight, man, [Junior] dos Santos hit really hard,” the 43-year-old revealed during the podcast. Unlike his dominant showing against Lesnar, ‘Cardio Cain’ struggled when he first clashed with Junior dos Santos at UFC on Fox 1 in November 2011, suffering a knockout defeat just 1:04 into Round 1. However, the setback wasn’t permanent.

Velasquez returned with a vengeance, avenging the loss by outworking dos Santos to a unanimous decision at UFC 155 in December 2012. Their rivalry reached its conclusion at UFC 166 on October 19, 2013, when Velasquez sealed the rubber match with a TKO at 3:09 of Round 5. Besides dos Santos, Francis Ngannou also left a lasting impression on Velasquez. “Obviously, Francis [Ngannou] has hit really hard, but I wasn’t like awake for that… you don’t feel like, ‘oh s—t, like that was hard.’ Like, no, it just kind of puts you to sleep… you’re not there anymore,” he admitted. 

Their bout ended abruptly on February 17, 2019, when Ngannou stopped Velasquez just 26 seconds into Round 1 at UFC on ESPN 1. Coming back to dos Santos, though, Velasquez emphasized the difference. “And then, dos Santos was like, when he hit me, I was still awake for like his shots. I’m like, ‘Oh s—t.’ Like, there’s a lot of power behind this, you know? It’s more than what I’ve ever felt,” he said in the resurfaced clip.

“Like more in the gym, more than anywhere else, where I was like, ‘Okay, he’s very dangerous. I can’t get hit by this.’” Regardless, Cain was recently sentenced to prison time. 

Cain Velasquez sentenced to 5 years in prison

The former UFC heavyweight champion has been sentenced to five years in prison after pleading no-contest to charges stemming from his 2022 arrest, including attempted murder. Prosecutors wanted a 30-year-to-life sentence, but Judge Arthur Bocanegra handed down a reduced term. Velasquez was also credited with 1,283 days already served in jail and on house arrest, meaning he is expected to spend less than two years behind bars.

The case began in February 2022 when Velasquez chased a car carrying Harry Goularte Jr, the man accused of molesting his son. During the pursuit, Velasquez fired a .40-caliber handgun, striking Goularte’s stepfather, Paul Bender, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The incident drew widespread support for Velasquez from the MMA community, including UFC CEO Dana White and close friend Daniel Cormier. Despite the sentence, Velasquez has continued coaching MMA and making professional wrestling appearances while out on bail.

Having said that, it appears Cain Velasquez only acknowledged the power of two men in his long and decorated MMA career. But do you agree with his list?