Ex-UFC star Cain Velasquez speaks out for first time since prison release… after being jailed for shooting at man accused of sexually assaulting his son
Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has paid tribute to his fans for their ‘love and support’ in his first public statement since being released from prison last month.
Velasquez, 43, spent close to a year behind bars for allegedly attempting to shoot a man who was accused of molesting his young child back in 2022.
The MMA legend was handed a five-year prison sentence after chasing and shooting at the vehicle of Harry Goularte, who was charged with sexually assaulting his four-year-old son, only to miss Goularte and strike his stepfather with a bullet.
He pleaded no contest to charges of felony attempted murder and assault, as well as weapons charges, before being sentenced in March of last year.
After a total of 1,283 days in custody, Velasquez was released on parole last month after receiving credit for time he spent in the county jail and on house arrest leading up to his 2024 trial.
And four weeks on from his release, he took to social media on Wednesday to express gratitude for the support he has received and explain how he has been ‘slowly’ readjusting to normal life.
UFC legend Cain Velasquez has paid tribute to his fans after being released from prison
Velasquez was seen reuniting with his family last month after spending a year behind bars
He allegedly attempted to shoot a man accused of molesting his four-year-old son
‘I’ll keep doing the work to get back to everyone,’ he said in a video message on Instagram. ‘And just for myself now, just to slowly get back out there without… I didn’t want to overwhelm myself with the pace of life that I was getting used to, to now all of a sudden a new way of life. A new way of living. A new rhythm.
‘So for myself, I just had to kind of get used to it – and I’ve been doing that. So again, just thank you, thanks everyone. And it’s good to be out.’
In a video captured by Mariachi Jalisciense, via MMA reporter Nolan King, Velasquez was seen reuniting with his wife and children after leaving prison in California.
To mark the special occasion, a mariachi band was performing when he arrived back home in a welcome-home party for the retired fighter.
According to ESPN, Goularte is still facing a felony charge of lewd acts with a minor, while Velasquez has also filed a civil case against him.
Velasquez, who has expressed remorse over the incident despite the accusations leveled against Goularte, previously reached a deal with prosecutors to avoid a life sentence after several trial delays.
The California-born star’s MMA career was highlighted by his two UFC Heavyweight title wins. He first won the championship by defeating Brock Lesnar in 2010 before losing to Junior dos Santos in his first defense. He’d go on to regain the title in their 2012 rematch but dropped it to Fabricio Werdum shortly after.
Velasquez retired in 2019 with a 14-3 record after getting knocked out by Francis Ngannou.
