Javier Mendez Admits He Mistook Cain Velasquez For A 'Fat Mexican Guy' Before He Started Training Him

American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez recently revealed how his first meeting with Cain Velasquez went.

Velasquez, one of the AKA's most decorated fighters during his run in the UFC, was not quite what Mendez was expecting when the pair first met. 

Renowned for his almost superhuman cardiovascular endurance, the former UFC heavyweight champion stood out in the gigantic world of the heavyweights for his conditioning. 

According to Mendez, he unfairly judged Velasquez ahead of time simply because of the fighter's Mexican heritage. 

'I've Never Seen An Athletic Mexican Guy' - Javier Mendez

During a recent interview with Red Corner MMA, Javier Mendez revealed that he was worried Velasquez would be overweight and unathletic ahead of first meeting him back in 2006.

"I remember the first time I saw Cain Velasquez," Mendez said. "I think it was 2006, and his management, DeWayne Zinkin, you know, said that, 'Hey, I got this- the greatest heavyweight that's got the greatest cardio, and you're gonna love this guy etc. etc.' And I'm like, 'Great, great, great.'

"As soon as he said he's Mexican, I lost interest because I'm thinking, 'Oh he's probably just a fat Mexican guy that's a good fighter but, you know, too heavy for, you know, he's got too much weight, you know?' I've never seen an athletic Mexican guy."

Mendez went on to confirm that he was pleasantly surprised by the durable wrestler he went on to meet.

"Then when Cain came in, I was on top of the ring looking at him," Mendez said. "I did a double look, I went, I go, 'Oh hi, oh I thought...' You know, and I was joking, I said, 'I thought you'd be heavier' you know, because he looked very athletic, and he goes, 'Oh yeah, yeah, I wrestle at 268 pounds.' ... What I saw was an athletic Latin guy, and I said, 'Wow, okay.'"