/mexico border, there was always a chance cane velasquez would end up spending his life on an assembly >> growing up, my parents didn't go through high school. they had to quit school start working at a young age. >> reporter: instead, he is one of the most recognizable faces in mixed martial arts, a sport that exploded in popularity in the united states. now perhaps even more popular of a combat sport than boxing. >> it's grown way bigger than i ever thought. i think fans are really gonna drawn to the ufc because of the excitement factor. >> reporter: at 6'1'', 23250 pounds, velasquez is the newly minted heavyweight champ of the ufc, the premier fighting company for mixed martial arts. the 30-year-old is the first mexican-american to hold the title. >> i kind of feel that i am a role model. if kids can look up to me, then that's great, so i am going to try to be the best role model i can be out there for them. >> reporter: it's a role being felt across the country, noorn 2500 miles away. as a one-time abortion, 20-year-old peruvian-born oscar augusto fell in love with mma. he says the

velasquez. ms. velazquez: i thank the gentlelady from new york for yielding.ce in two decades, members of both parties have crossed party lines to reauthorize the violence against women act. yet, this week, we are considering a partisan bill that excludes some victims based on actional orientaton or immigration status. what if the victim is a lesbian or gay man, what if it is a undocumented worker. here are some facts, 20% of gay men experience domestic abuse as do 50% of lesbian women. for undocumented women, abuse rates are likely higher than the rest of the population. what goes unreported for fear of deportation. those of millions of people and thousands of new yorkers who are being hurt. this legislation adds insult to their injury by basically saying that because of who your we won't help you. i hope my republican colleagues agree that that is not the message we want to send. vote no on the rule and the underlying bill so we can approve a real violence against women act that protects all victims equally. shame on us. this should not be a partisan issue.