By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight king Cain Velasquez is sentenced to five years in prison for attempted murder and other charges confirmed on March 25, 2025.
According to multiple sources, the hearing occurred at the Santa Clara County Hall of Justice in San Jose, California, presided by County Superior Court Judge Arthur Bocanegra.
Velasquez was slapped with an attempted murder and multiple assault and weapon charges after initiating an 11-mile high-speed car chase with a man named Harry Goularte in 2022.
He was accused of molesting Velasquez’s four-year-old son on multiple occasions. Out of anger, the UFC legend fired several shots from a .40 caliber handgun to Goularte during the car chase.
However, Goularte wasn’t alone in his vehicle and was carrying his stepfather, Paul Bender, and his mother, the owner of the day care center where Velasquez’s son went to.
After the car chase, Bender suffered wounds to his arm and torso, while Goularte and his mother had no life-threatening injuries. Evidence showed Goularte’s truck was visibly sprayed with bullet holes.
The decision ended the three-year series of back-and-forth, with the verdict finalized 10 charges on Velasquez from attempted murder, shooting at a vehicle, assault with a firearm, and carrying a loaded firearm with intent to commit a felony.
Before the final court ruling, Velasquez spent nine months in jail after his arrest but was released in November 2022 on a $1-million bail.
Velasquez was one of the most talented heavyweight champions during his prime and held UFC’s golden belt in 2010 and 2012.
The vicious-hitting slugger made a name for himself when he knocked out Brock Lesnar in the first round to clinch his first UFC heavyweight title but failed to defend his belt against Junior dos Santos in his next match.
Determined to get back on top, Velasquez returned to the octagon six months after his loss and dominated Antonio Silva via a technical knockout win.
That victory then arranged a highly-anticipated rematch with dos Santos, where he finally got his revenge and belt back with a one-sided unanimous decision win.
Velasquez ended his career in the UFC last 2019 after multiple injuries hindered and prevented him from maintaining his top fighting form.
