Is UFC Legend Cain Velasquez Getting Jailed for Five Years?

A court in Santa Clara County, San Jose, California, sentenced former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez to five years in prison on Monday for a shooting incident from February 2022.

Velasquez, who had been on house arrest since November 2022, received credit for 1,283 days already served.

In August, Velasquez admitted to felony attempted murder, assault, and weapons charges. Authorities charged him after he chased a vehicle carrying a man accused of molesting his son and fired multiple shots at it. The man’s father, who was also in the vehicle, sustained injuries in the shooting.

Velasquez’s attorney, Renee M. Hessling, released a statement calling the verdict “bittersweet.”

“Today’s results are bittersweet — we had hoped Mr. Velasquez would remain out of jail. However, the facts remain clear: Cain Velasquez is a good man, a devoted father, and a respected member of the community,” Hessling said.

She stated that Velasquez has accepted responsibility for his actions and is dedicated to making amends.

In a recent appearance on Kyle Kingsbury’s podcast, Velasquez openly admitted his mistake.

“From what I can say as far as myself, the way that I handled things was not the way to do it,” Velasquez said. “We cannot put the law in our own hands. … I know what I did, and I know what I did was very dangerous to other people, you know? Not just people involved, but innocent people. I understand what I did, and I’m willing to do everything I have to [do] to pay that back.”

Authorities accused Velasquez of firing at a pickup truck carrying Harry Goularte, who faced allegations of molesting Velasquez’s then-4-year-old son at a daycare owned by Goularte’s mother.

During an 11-mile car chase from Morgan Hill to San Jose on February 28, 2022, Velasquez allegedly shot multiple times with a .40-caliber handgun. He missed his intended target but struck Goularte’s stepfather, Paul Bender, in the arm and torso. Police later arrested Velasquez without incident.

Harry Goularte will stand trial on June 2 for a felony charge of lewd acts with a minor. He has pleaded not guilty and is currently out of custody with GPS monitoring.

Two-time UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez gained fame by defeating Brock Lesnar to claim the undisputed title in 2010. Although he had a highly successful career, recurring injuries plagued him until his retirement in 2019.

After authorities arrested Velasquez, the UFC openly expressed its support, with CEO Dana White even writing a letter to the court, praising him as a “model example of how a professional athlete should carry himself.”

The case has ignited widespread debate over vigilante justice and California’s legal system, particularly the decision to grant bail to an alleged child molester. While Velasquez’s supporters defend his actions as those of a father protecting his child, legal experts warn against the risks of taking justice into one’s own hands.

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