Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has been sentenced to five years in prison following a 2022 incident in which he shot a man.
Velasquez, who has already spent time in jail and on house arrest over the matter, will be given credit for time served, meaning he'll likely spend less than two years behind bars.
The 42-year-old pleaded no-contest to a variety of charges, with prosecutors pushing for a sentence of 30 years to life.
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BREAKING: UFC champ Cain Velasquez was sentenced to 5 years in prison, with 1,283 days credit for time served. The judge was choked up and had tears in his eyes. He said keeping a son from his father was the worst punishment, and he gave Cain the lightest possible sentence. pic.twitter.com/tnqPaHZtiQ
— Amy Larson (@AmyLarson25) March 24, 2025
Velasquez was originally arrested in San Jose, California, following an incident in February 2022 in which the fighter, while driving, pursued another car for 11 miles, rammed it and then fired several shots into the vehicle.
The other car contained Harry Goularte, a man accused of molesting Velasquez's son at a daycare.
While Goularte wasn't injured, one of the rounds struck his stepfather, Paul Bender, in the arm, causing non-life threatening injuries.
Velasquez was arrested without incident, with charges including premeditated attempted murder, felony assault and gun related charges.
Having initially been denied, Velasquez was granted bail, after having spent eight months in custody.
The defense was eventually able to make a deal with the district attorney to remove the charge of premeditated attempted murder, which can carry with it a life sentence.