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Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez sentenced to 5 years in prison

Originally posted on MMA on SI | By Chris De Santiago | Last updated Mar 24, 2025 6:01 PM ET

The verdict is in for former UFC Champion Cain Velasquez.

On Feb. 28, 2022, the former UFC heavyweight champion was arrested in Santa Clara County on an attempted first-degree murder charge. Velasquez had been in a 15-minute high-speed chase, firing his handgun at a man in a vehicle named Harry Goularte. Goularte allegedly molested Velaquez's 4-year-old son at a daycare.

Velasquez ended up shooting Goularte's stepfather, Paul Bender, in the arm. Velasquez was booked into jail for months, denied bail three times by the Santa Clara County Court.

Velasquez pled not guilty to the charges at first before entering a no-contest plea in August. The retired UFC star was released on $1M bail in Nov. 2022 after spending 8 months behind bars.

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Cain Velasquez Sentenced

A sentencing hearing is underway for MMA star Cain Velasquez. He is hugging many supporters in the hallway. Prosecutors asked for 25 years to life. Defense asked for no prison time. Judge will announce sentence at 1:30. @kron4news https://t.co/L0tb2JAbET pic.twitter.com/zzJMGxuPFd
— Amy Larson (@AmyLarson25) March 24, 2025

Velasquez had his sentencing at the Santa Clara County Court on Monday. Velasquez could've gotten as little as probation all the way up to 30 years to life in prison, which is what the deputy district attorney had asked for.

As first reported by NBC's Ian Cull, Cain Velasquez has been sentenced to five years in prison for the attempted murder of Harry Goularte.

According to Cull, Velasquez's attorney says they expect him to serve one year as he'll get credit for time served in jail and house arrest with an ankle montior.

UPDATE: Cain Velasquez’s attorney expects he’ll serve 1 year, because he’ll get credit for time served in jail and the time he did at home with an ankle monitor.
— Ian Cull (@NBCian) March 24, 2025

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Velasquez was surrounded in the court room by family members and teammates from American Kickboxing Academy, his longtime MMA gym.

BREAKING: UFC champ Cain Velasquez was sentenced to 5 years in prison, with 1,283 days credit for time served. The judge was choked up and had tears in his eyes. He said keeping a son from his father was the worst punishment, and he gave Cain the lightest possible sentence. pic.twitter.com/tnqPaHZtiQ
— Amy Larson (@AmyLarson25) March 24, 2025

Meanwhile, Harry Goularte pled not guilty to one felony charge of lewd acts with a minor. His trial is set for June 2nd.

Cain Velasquez's Career

A two-time UFC heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez is considered one of the greatest heavyweights of all timem with signature wins over Brock Lesnar, Junior Dos Santos, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, Antonio Silva, and more.

Velasquez had his final MMA fight in 2019 against former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou, suffering an injury prior to a first-round TKO defeat. He had a short stint as a pro wrestler in the WWE as well.