Cain Velasquez will be spending some time in prison.
Cain Velasquez will always go down as one of the best UFC heavyweights to step into the octagon. Though his WWE career fizzled fast, the former UFC Heavyweight Champion was making waves down in Lucha Libre AAA where many thought that Cain would dominate professional wrestling just like the UFC.
However, one incident got Cain a sentence of five years in prison. Back in February 28, 2022, Cain was on a high speed chase pursuing the man that was accused of molesting his son, Harry Goularte. Velasquez fired off shots from a .40-caliber handgun at the vehicle, but unfortunately, Cain didn’t hit Goularte. The bullets actually struck his stepfather, Paul Bender. The injuries were non-life threatening, but the charges against the former WWE star were very serious. He was arrested that evening and served eight months in jail before he was let out on bail.
There was a point where Cain could have served life in prison as one of the charges was premeditated attempted murder, but he struck a deal with the district attorney’s office and plead non-contest, which took that charge off the table.
After three years of waiting, the former UFC Heavyweight Champion was finally handed down his sentence and he’ll receive five years for attempted murder, and assault and weapons charges. However, the former WWE star’s time in jail and house arrest will count as time served, so he’ll be behind bars for less than two years.
“Today’s results are bittersweet — we had hoped Mr. Velasquez would remain out of jail,” Lead Velasquez defense attorney Renee Hessling said in a written statement Monday. “However, the facts remain clear: Cain Velasquez is a good man, a devoted father, and a respected member of the community. What he and his family have endured has been nothing short of a living nightmare—one they did not deserve.
“Throughout it all, Cain has shown courage and strength of character. He has taken responsibility for his actions and has been held accountable. The sentence handed down today reflects the complexities of the situation and acknowledges the man behind the headlines. When he is released, he will continue to lead by example—protecting, contributing, and caring for the people around him.”
Cain himself has reflected on the situation and felt remorse for what he did. During an interview on Kyle Kingsbury’s podcast, he notably stated that “the way that I handled things was not the way to do it.” The former UFC star is preparing to turn himself into prison.