What are the charges against UFC champion Cain Velasquez? Details explored as athlete sentenced to 5-year jail

The two-time UFC heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez, was sentenced to five years in jail on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Santa Clara County, California.

The professional wrestler was sentenced because of the shooting incident that took place in February 2022 in San Jose, California. Several former and current MMA fighters are speaking out in defense of Cain.

In August 2024, Cain pleaded no contest to charges that included felony assault, attempted murder, and gun-related offenses. Jorge Masvidal, the professional boxer, made this statement regarding Cain's sentence. As per ABC 7 News, he said:

''My reaction to hearing that news today is that California is full of B.S. brother.''

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Cain Velasquez sentenced to jail, details explored

On February 28, 2022, Cain Velasquez pursued and fired at a vehicle with his registered .40 handgun multiple times. This shooting took place in San Jose, near a school that was surrounded by children, parents, and teachers.

Harry Goularte was in the vehicle, along with his mother and his stepfather, Paul Bender. Harry was accused of child molestation. The accusation came after Cain's son claimed that he was s*xually assaulted by Harry on several occasions.

Cain started shooting at the people in the vehicle when they stopped at the intersection. As they tried to escape the shooting, Cain crashed his car into the vehicle and fired more rounds, leading to a bullet hitting Harry's stepfather in the arm and side. The latter survived the injuries.

Cain, however, did not shoot his target, Harry. He was later arrested by the Morgan Hill police.

Describing the shooting situation, the SCCPO said:

''Velasquez began shooting at the victims at a Morgan Hill intersection. As they tried to flee, he rammed their vehicle and fired more rounds at them, striking the driver in the arm and right flank, severing his brachial artery, as they drove past the Charter School of Morgan Hill.''

Cain Velasquez was taken into custody after the sentence was passed. He will be getting credit for the time he's already spent in jail and will be required to serve about one more year in prison. Speaking on The Kyle Kingsbury Podcast, Cain said:

''From what I can say as far as myself, the way that I handled things, that was not the way to do it. We cannot put the law in our own hands.''

He also went on to say that he understood the impact of his behavior and would accept whatever punishment would be given to him.

Apparently, three days before the shooting incident took place, Harry Goularte was charged with felony child molestation and had appeared in the Santa Clara County court. He was, however, released and placed under home detention when the shooting incident occurred.

Cain Velasquez retired from mixed martial arts in 2019 and moved towards wrestling. He first worked with Mexican Lucha Libre AAA and then American WWE.