Ex-UFC champion sentenced to prison in attempted murder case

Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has been sentenced to prison over his role in a 2022 alleged attempted murder.

Velasquez was arrested in February 2022 for allegedly shooting at a man in Morgan Hill, California. The man Velasquez shot at was identified as Harry Eugene Goularte. Roughly a week before the incident, Goularte had been charged with one felony count of a lewd and lascivious act with a child under the age of 14. Goularte was let out on his own recognizance and granted supervised release.

Goularte hosted a day care that was run by his mother. Multiple media outlets reported at the time that Velasquez's son was one of the alleged victims. Velasquez had been chasing down Goularte when the former UFC fighter fired a gun and shot the man’s stepfather, who was also in the car.

On Monday, Velasquez was sentenced to five years in prison in a Santa Clara, California courtroom. The 42-year-old had previously pleaded no contest and said he accepted responsibility for his actions. Velasquez said he was “willing to do everything I have to to pay back that.” His attorneys had asked for time served and probation rather than a prison sentence.

Velasquez is a two-time UFC heavyweight champion. He finished his career with a record of 14-3. His last fight was a loss to Francis Ngannou in February 2019.