Sports Media

Cain Velasquez Sentenced To Five Years In Prison For Attempted Murder

James Herrick / UFC / March 25, 2025

Cain Velasquez Sentenced To Five Years In Prison For Attempted Murder

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez has been sentanced for five years in prison for attempted murder, according to MMA Junkie.

Velasquez’s sentencing was for an incident that took place in 2022. In the incident, Velasquez engaged in a high-speed pursuit of another vehicle while firing his handgun throughout the chase. The motive for Velasquez’s action was that Harry Goularte and several family members were in the vehicle. Goularte allegedly sexually assaulted Velasquez’s four-year-old son at the Goularte family’s daycare and had been arrested for the allegations. In the incident, one of Velasquez’s shots struck Paul Bender, Goularte’s stepfather.

Velasquez’s five-year sentence will date back to his arrest date. That credits him with 1,283 days served and leaves him with 542 days to spend in prison.

The five-year sentence is the minimum amount of time Velasquez could serve for the crime. The decision splits the request of Velasquez’s defense team and the district attorney’s office.

“Today’s results are bittersweet — we had hoped Mr. Velasquez would remain out of jail,” Renee Hessling, Velasquez’s lead defense attorney, said in a written statement Monday. “However, the facts remain clear: Cain Velasquez is a good man, a devoted father, and a respected member of the community. What he and his family have endured has been nothing short of a living nightmare—one they did not deserve.

“Throughout it all, Cain has shown courage and strength of character. He has taken responsibility for his actions and has been held accountable. The sentence handed down today reflects the complexities of the situation and acknowledges the man behind the headlines. When he is released, he will continue to lead by example—protecting, contributing, and caring for the people around him.”

In opposition to Velasquez, the district attorney’s office requested the sentence be 25 years to life.

“One man’s decision to take the law into his own hands left an innocent man wounded and endangered schoolchildren, teachers, and many others in our community,” Santa Clara County district attorney Jeff Rosen said. “If you want to do justice in Santa Clara County, please apply for a badge.”