Cain Velasquez Receives 5-Year Sentence for Shooting

Cain Velasquez, a former UFC heavyweight champion, has been sentenced to five years in prison following a 2022 shooting incident involving a high-speed chase and gunfire, targeting Harry Goularte, who was accused of molesting Velasquez's son. Although Goularte was unharmed, his stepfather, Paul Bender, was injured in the incident. Velasquez pleaded no contest to attempted murder and other charges, receiving credit for 1,283 days served, and is expected to serve less than two additional years. Despite the legal outcome, Velasquez's actions have sparked sympathy and support among the MMA community, who view his actions as those of a protective father. The prosecutors had sought a more severe punishment, but the judge handed down the lightest possible sentence, acknowledging the emotional complexity of the case. Goularte's trial for the molestation charges is set to begin in June 2025.