Props: BJPenn.com

Quoteworthy:

"I got this tattoo for two reasons. One, for everything my parents did to come over to this country, all the hardships they had crossing the border. 'Brown pride' when we were growing up meant ‘Mexican pride.' That’s how we would say it. It’s something to say if we’re proud about where we came from. What my Dad did, my Mom did to get over to this country to me means a lot. I’m proud of where I came from. I’m proud of what Mexican people stand for. We’re known as hard working people. We’re known as fighters. We’re known to have a lot of heart. We’re known to never give up in the gym and have a lot of cardio. To always work hard. The work ethic that my Dad, all the Mexican people bring out in the fields and stuff, we bring to the gym and whatever else we do. Another reason why I got is because when I was growing up I didn’t have anybody to look up to. There’s nobody that was my size that was Mexican that looked like me that I could see in the media. I pretty much didn’t have those dreams of 'Hey, I can do that stuff. I can be in the media, I can play professional sports.' I didn’t have that. I didn’t have nobody to look up to so now that I’m in that position, I put 'Brown Pride' on my chest to let people know 'Hey, I’m Mexican. I’m proud to be Mexican. I’m doing good things.' For those people that just don’t know the story behind it, that’s all I can say. The only thing I can do is clear it up by doing interviews like this."

Ever since his debut in the UFC, young heavyweight stand-out Cain Velasquez has had a small issue attached to his name. That issue is the "Brown Pride" tattoo across his chest. Since day one there have been questions, comments, and allegations about the tattoo that seems to mean so much to the heavyweight number one contender. In a rare interview with Velasquez, he finally explains why he got the tattoo, what it means to him, and answered some of the allegations that have been made about the tattoo. As UFC 121 and his title shot against Brock Lesnar approaches, Cain is sure to find himself defending his ink more and more. Where do you come out on his so-called "controversial" tattoo? Is the tat over the top, or just the criticism of it?