Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has been sentenced to five years in prison for a 2022 shooting incident involving a man accused of molesting his young son. The sentencing took place Monday at Santa Clara County court in San Jose, California.
Velasquez, 42, had been out on house arrest since November 2022 and received credit for 1,283 days of time served. He had previously pleaded no contest to felony attempted murder, assault, and weapons charges stemming from the February 28, 2022, incident.
The Incident: An Attempted Vigilante Justice
According to court documents, Velasquez pursued Harry Goularte, the man accused of molesting his then-4-year-old son at a daycare run by Goularte’s mother. In a dramatic 11-mile car chase from Morgan Hill to San Jose, Velasquez opened fire on a pickup truck carrying Goularte and his stepfather, Paul Bender. While Goularte was unharmed, Bender was shot in the arm and torso.
Velasquez was arrested without incident and charged with multiple felonies. His actions sparked intense public debate and emotional reactions across the MMA community and beyond.
Attorney and Velasquez Speak Out
In a statement, Renee M. Hessling, Velasquez’s attorney, described the sentence as “bittersweet” but emphasized her client’s integrity:
“Cain Velasquez is a good man, a devoted father, and a respected member of the community… He has shown courage and strength of character. He has taken responsibility for his actions and has been held accountable.”
Velasquez also publicly accepted responsibility in a podcast interview with former UFC teammate Kyle Kingsbury, saying:
“The way that I handled things was not the way to do it… I understand what I did, and I’m willing to do everything I have to do to pay that back.”
UFC, Dana White Offered Support
The UFC voiced its support for Velasquez during his legal proceedings. A letter from UFC CEO Dana White submitted to the court described him as a “model example of how a professional athlete should carry himself.” The promotion did not comment immediately following the sentencing.
What’s Next?
Velasquez’s legal saga isn’t over. Harry Goularte is set to stand trial on June 2, 2025, facing one felony charge of lewd acts with a minor. He has pleaded not guilty.
Cain Velasquez retired from MMA in 2019, but his legacy as one of the sport’s most dominant heavyweight champions remains. He captured the UFC heavyweight title in 2010 by defeating Brock Lesnar and headlined multiple pay-per-view events, though his career was often hampered by injuries.
Now, Velasquez’s journey takes another dramatic turn — one shaped by tragedy, parental instinct, and legal consequence.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
