Cain Velasquez hitting Junior dos Santos (photo via David Becker / Associated Press)

By FCF Staff

Not only has Cain Velasquez repositioned himself as the planet’s best heavyweight fighter in recent months, but the UFC champion has reportedly received a new, eight fight contract from his ZUFFA employers.

According to multiple reports, UFC President Dana White announced this week that the 30 year-old Velasquez has signed a new deal, despite the fact he still had three fights remaining on his old contract.

White reportedly revealed the new deal while discussing the recent cuts the promotion has made, which included Velasquez’s longtime teammate, highly regarded welterweight Jon Fitch. White cited the new deal as evidence that the promotion rewards fighters for their performances when it doesn’t contractually have to.

No terms of the deal were mentioned.

Velasquez (11-1) is coming off an impressive, unanimous decision win over Junior dos Santos in December, to avenge the stoppage loss he suffered versus the former champ in November, 2011.

Up next, the heavyweight champ will take on Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva at UFC 160 on May 25th. Velasquez stormed through Silva in May, 2012, for the first round, TKO win.