Cain Velasquez has been handed a five-year prison sentence after pleading no-contest to a slew of charges, including attempted murder, wrapping up a wild three-year saga that kicked off with his arrest in 2022, per multiple reports. The former UFC heavyweight champ stood in court with his family and lawyer as Judge Arthur Bocanegra dropped the gavel on Monday. Prosecutors were gunning for 30 years to life, while Velasquez’s team pushed for probation and time served—five years was the middle ground, and with 1,283 days already credited from jail and house arrest, he’s likely looking at less than two years locked up.
This all started back in February 2022 when Velasquez, fueled by fury, chased down a car carrying Harry Goularte—a guy accused of molesting Velasquez’s son at a daycare run by Goularte’s mom—over an 11-mile high-speed pursuit. Goularte’s facing his own child molestation charges and, despite prosecutors’ objections, got out on bond after his arrest. That’s when Velasquez took matters into his own hands, unloading several shots from a .40-caliber handgun at the vehicle. He missed Goularte but tagged Goularte’s stepdad, Paul Bender, in the arm with a non-life-threatening wound. When the chase screeched to a halt, Morgan Hill Police scooped up Velasquez without a fight, slapping him with a laundry list of charges that kept him caged for eight months before he snagged bail.
The district attorney’s office didn’t hold back, pointing to Velasquez’s phone searches like “sexual assault case where victims family fights back” and “sexual assault cases where victims family retaliates” as proof of intent. Deputy DA Aaron French laid it out in a pre-sentencing memo: “The defendant’s crime is severe. Justice demands a sentence that is equally severe. To hold the defendant accountable for his reckless and dangerous actions and the lasting physical and psychological injuries he left upon the victims and the community, the court should impose a sentence of 30 years to life in prison.” Harsh words, but Velasquez dodged the life-sentence bullet by cutting a no-contest deal, axing the premeditated attempted murder charge that could’ve sunk him for good.
While out on bail, Velasquez jumped back into the MMA world, coaching and even stepping into the pro wrestling ring, all while the court date loomed with multiple delays. The MMA crew rallied hard for him—UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier, his longtime buddy, and even UFC boss Dana White, who penned a support letter when bail was first denied, had his back. Now, after Monday’s sentencing, Velasquez is gearing up for prison time, though with time served, it’s more of a short stint than a long haul.
