The MMA community has rallied around former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez after he was sentenced to five years in prison for attempted murder.
In a highly emotional case, which saw the judge reportedly deliver the verdict with tears in his eyes, Velazquez pleaded no contest to the charge and took full responsibility for his actions.
Velasquez faced 30 years in prison for a high-speed car chase with the man accused of molesting his young son, with the judge reportedly handing him the most lenient sentence under the law.
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He had pleaded no contest to felony attempted murder, assault and weapons charges after he repeatedly shot at the vehicle in a 17km chase.
The man’s father, who was with him, was shot and injured during the incident.
The man accused of the sexual abuse, Harry Goularte had been arrested days earlier and accused of committing the acts on “multiple occasions” while the former UFC champion’s son was attending a day care facility owned by Goularte’s mother.
Velasquez, who has been out of jail since November 2022 and on house arrest, received credit for 1,283 days of time served.
Superior Court Judge Arthur Bocanegra reportedly had tears in his eyes as he delivered the sentence.
Velasquez took full responsibility for his actions and said he would cop any punishment that comes his way.
Cain Velasquez in 2016. Getty
“What I did was not correct,” Velasquez told the Kyle Kingsbury Podcast.
“I understand that. I paid, and I’ll pay whatever else as far as what I have to do to pay all that back. I don’t think I can pay it back, but I can always learn from my mistakes and help others.
“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.
“So whatever the court feels correct for what I have to do, I’m going to do it with my head up and still be me, and not play the blame game. It was me that did that and reacted in that way.”
The news sparked a heated reaction from other UFC fighters and reporters who called for the ex-champ to be freed.
Goularte has pleaded not guilty to one charge of lewd acts with a minor and is set for trial on June 2.
