This past weekend The MMA Truth had the honor of meeting and spending some time with UFC heavyweight champion and number one ranked heavyweight in the world, Cain Velasquez who visited the Island to promote UFC 127.

The champion met with fans from all over the country at a Fan Rally held at the Club House at the Central Park in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

MMA fans had the chance to meet Velasquez, ask him questions, get their pictures and autographs, as well as a MMA demonstration by Juan Delgado, owner and instructor of the Training Zone Academy in Puerto Rico.

Velasquez and the UFC representatives had a chance to experience the passion the Puerto Rican MMA fans have for the sport and for their favorite fighters.

This initiative was powered by Dish Network and Dish Puerto Rico, in an effort to fast forward the already fast-moving pace of MMA in the country.

Puerto Rico is no stranger to MMA and UFC.  UFC 8 was held in the Island in 1996 and for many reasons it is one of the most important events in the first half of the life of the UFC.

UFC 8 produced for the fastest knock out--an eight second knock out by the right hand of a Don Frye, who went on to become a MMA Legend, and a record that prevailed for nearly 14 years.

Fun fact is, "The Veteran Voice of The Octagon" Bruce Buffer, announced his first UFC fight at UFC 8-- Buffer announced the prelims at this event.

This event in Puerto Rico also brought one of the biggest gates in UFC.  At the moment, it had been the biggest gate in UFC and it remained like that until UFC 40 in Las Vegas.

Up until this day, it is an event that still pops up in MMA conversations all over.

Velasquez told The MMA Truth:

"... you know, getting off the plane, right away I knew they were fanatics here.  As far as getting noticed and talking to people, being around town for the short amount of time that I've been here.

Being here is beautiful, the weather is nice.  For me it sucks, the trip is until tomorrow, but it's been a nice visit."

We also asked the champ to comment on Bob Arum's opinions on MMA and the statements he has made about MMA being a sport that only "white men watched" and that "latinos and black people don't watch MMA because they are boxing fans."

Velasquez said: "That's wrong you know.  Every time anyone sees this sport, they become fanatics right away.  It's a sport that is so diverse, there's so many things you can do. I mean, everybody can relate to it.

Weather you come from a karate background, boxing background, a wrestling background, you can relate to this sport.

Everybody loves boxing, I love boxing and I always will, but this is something everybody can relate to.  It's so exciting everytime."

The MMA Truth: "You know MMA is facing tough opposition to be legalized in New York.  The voice of that opposition is Assemblyman Bob Reilly.  In a recent interview, Bob Reilly's  real motivations for opposing MMA in New York, in my opinion, were exposed by Larry Pepe on ProMMARadio.

If you could sit with that man and try to pick his brain and convince him to help legalize MMA in New York, which would benefit the City greatly, what would you tell him?"

Cain Velasquez: "For me, that's up to the UFC to do that.  I mean, I'm a fighter.  I train and fight, that's pretty much it.  But I think, it seems it's being legalized everywhere.  I think it will definitely get things to the City, having that kind of sporting event there.

Especially for MMA, that would be huge to have an event at Madison Square Garden."

The fans in Puerto Rico had an amazing experience meeting the champ, and I am sure he did too, receiving much deserved love and respect from his fans.

The day ended with an exclusive UFC 127 viewing at a high end restaurant in Condado, the equivalent of South Beach in Miami.

At the viewing party we were all just MMA fans watching our favorite sport in a huge TV, the champ, being the humble, simple person he is, hung out with fans and friends just like any other day, just another one of the guys.

We wish the best of luck and health to Cain Velasquez for being an example for all Latinos in the world, and also all MMA fans all over.

Thanks for reading.