Former UFC Champion Cain Velasquez Sentenced to Prison for Attempted Murder
Cain Velasquez celebrates after defeating Travis Browne in their heavyweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC 200, Saturday, July 9, 2016, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Three years after Cain Velasquez shot at the man he accused of allegedly molesting his then 4-year-old son, the former UFC heavyweight champion is going to prison for attempted murder.
Velasquez was sentenced to five years behind bars for the February 2022 shooting on Monday (March 24) in San Jose, California. He had been on house arrest since November 2022. During the shooting, the accused man, Harry Goularte, was riding in a vehicle driven by his stepfather, Paul Bender, who was shot in the arm and torso.
“Today’s results are bittersweet,” Velasquez’s attorney Renee M. Hessling said in a statement. “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. 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.”
Hessling continued: “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.”
During a recent interview on former UFC fighter Kyle Kingsbury’s podcast, Velasquez took responsibility for the crime he committed. “The way that I handled things was not the way to do it,” he 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.”
Other MMA fighters have come out in defense of Velasquez. Professional fighter Jorge Masvidal reportedly said, “My reaction to hearing that news today is that California is full of B.S. brother.” according to ABC7News. He also posted on X, “#FREECAIN”
UFC Fighter Oban Elliott also spoke with ABC7News and said, “Any father or family member in the right place would do something.” He also shared on X and said, “A huge honour to defend Cain on that platform on behalf of the MMA community.”
