Velasquez Released from Prison
Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has been released on parole after serving nearly a year in prison. The ex-WWE star's agent confirmed his freedom, sparking speculation about his professional future in both combat sports and wrestling given his cross-promotional history.
- Cain Velasquez was arrested in February 2022 on charges including attempted murder after allegedly engaging in a high-speed car chase and shooting at a vehicle carrying Harry Goularte, a man accused of molesting Velasquez's young son. The shooting injured Goularte's stepfather, who was driving the vehicle. - In August 2024, Velasquez pleaded no contest to the charges. He was sentenced in March 2025 to five years in prison but was released on parole on February 15, 2026, with credit for time served and participation in rehabilitation programs. - Prior to his arrest, Velasquez had been denied bail multiple times, with a judge deeming him too great a risk to the public. He eventually spent eight months in jail before being released on a $1 million bond in November 2022, under the conditions of house arrest and GPS monitoring. - The man Velasquez targeted, Harry Goularte, is still facing felony child molestation charges and is out of custody on supervised release with GPS monitoring. - Velasquez is a two-time former UFC Heavyweight Champion, having first won the title by defeating Brock Lesnar in 2010. His professional mixed martial arts record stands at 14 wins and 3 losses. - Following his last UFC fight in 2019, a loss to Francis Ngannou, Velasquez retired from MMA and transitioned to a career in professional wrestling, signing with WWE. He was released from his WWE contract in April 2020 due to budget cuts. - While incarcerated, Velasquez was held in protective custody. Upon his release, he expressed interest in hosting a Holotropic Breathwork seminar, citing breathwork as a powerful tool for him physically, mentally, and spiritually.
