Cain Velasquez Opens Up About His Emotions Ahead of Sentencing: A Call for Justice

Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez is bracing himself for his sentencing in court on Monday, following a no-contest plea in April to multiple charges, including premeditated attempted murder, felony assault, and gun-related offenses stemming from his 2022 arrest.

Velasquez has largely remained silent about the ordeal affecting him and his family, but he recently opened up in an interview with former teammate Kyle Kingsbury. “From what I can say as far as myself, the way that I handled things, that was not the way to do it,” Velasquez said on The Kyle Kingsbury Podcast. “We cannot put the law in our own hands. …

“I already pled [no-contest] so I’m going to get a sentencing [on Monday], and I know what I did. I know what I did was very dangerous towards other people — not just to people involved, but to just innocent people. I understand what I did, and I’m willing to do everything I have to pay back that.

“So whatever the court feels correct for what I have to do, I’m going to do it with my head up and still be me, and not play the blame game. It was me that did that and reacted in that way.”

The incident that led to his arrest occurred in February 2022, when Velasquez pursued a vehicle carrying Harry Goularte, a man accused of molesting Velasquez’s son at a daycare run by Goularte’s mother, in an 11-mile high-speed chase. During the pursuit, the 42-year-old fired multiple shots from a .40-caliber handgun at the vehicle, injuring Goularte’s stepfather, Paul Bender, in the arm with non-life-threatening wounds.

Despite the ongoing pain his family has endured, Velasquez expressed that he has forgiven Goularte and wishes for their healing. “Again, for me, I can’t be stuck on any place,” Velasquez explained. “Even with that family, with what they’ve done, I can’t have hate like that for them because there’s things that I have to move on to, and give love to my kids, and give love to the people around… like, I have to share this with everybody. So I can’t give hate to them at all.

“I wish them healing in the best way, whatever that is. Like, I wish that for them, I understand they all have traumas, as well. It’s not right to spread it. … I’m glad they, themselves, have stopped because they can’t practice anymore, as far as being a daycare.

“With my own time, I’ve forgiven them and everything else, and I know my kids are great. … My son is amazing, he’s one of the strongest, funniest kids that I know. He’s my best friend, I’m proud of him, of who he is, and this will not define him. He’s meant for greater, and my daughter as well. They’re both meant for great things, and I’m just like, ‘I’m so blessed to live this life with you. You help me, I help you. It’s not like I’m just teaching you, you’re teaching me. I’m just f*cking loving being with you at this moment. This is sacred, the most sacred to be with another version of yourself.”

As he awaits Monday’s sentencing, Velasquez hopes his experience serves as a lesson to others about the importance of open communication between parents and children and recognizing the harsh realities that can affect anyone. “What I did was not correct, I understand that,” Velasquez said. “I paid, and I’ll pay whatever else as far as what I have to do to pay all that back. I don’t think I can pay that back, but I can always learn from my mistakes and help others.

“It’s just information that you never know anybody. Trust your kids, have that open communication with your kids. … So as far as that goes, it’s basically that, and again, I think the more we get just consciously aware of ourselves, the more the light shines on dark things — especially like that.”