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, Calif. 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 daycare that was run by his mother. Multiple media outlets reported at the time that a family member of Velasquez 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, Calif., 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.
