UFC champion Cain Velasquez is reunited with his family after he was released from prison for shooting a man accused of abusing his son.
Former UFC fighter Cain Velasquez has been reunited with his family after being released from prison, less than a year after serving a five-year sentence for trying to shoot a man accused of molesting his child.
The 43-year-old was released on parole Sunday from a California state prison after serving 1,283 days, including time spent in state jail before sentencing and house arrest ahead of his 2024 trial, his agent Mike Fonseca confirmed to ESPN.
A touching video of Velasquez meeting his children after being dropped off by a van, with a mariachi band playing in the background, was posted on Instagram by @mariachi_jalisciense1.
The fighter’s young son and daughter were seen running up to him and jumping into his arms during the happy moment.
Velasquez was jailed for chasing and shooting the car of daycare worker Harry Goularte, who is facing charges of sexually abusing his four-year-old son, in February 2022.
During the 11-kilometer chase, Goularte’s 63-year-old father, who was riding in the car, was shot and injured.
After serving house arrest since November 2022, the former MMA fighter pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, assault and weapons charges before being sentenced in March 2025.
Velasquez has publicly expressed remorse for the incident and reached an agreement with prosecutors to avoid a 30-year prison sentence.
Goularte is still facing a charge of indecency with a minor and has pleaded not guilty. Velasquez also filed a related civil lawsuit, ESPN reported.
Velasquez admitted during an appearance on the Kyle Kingsbury podcast before he began his sentence that his actions were “extremely harmful” to those involved and to “innocent people.”
“I understand what I’ve done and I’m willing to do everything I have to make up for it,” said Velasquez.
Velasquez also said that he has forgiven the Goularte family, who worked at the kindergarten where the alleged molestation took place.
“Even with that family and what they have done, I cannot have such hatred towards them,” said the former fighter.
“Because there are things I have to go through and love my children and love the people around me.”
Velasquez competed in the UFC from 2008 to 2019, winning the heavyweight title twice and establishing himself as one of the top fighters in the division during his time.
He first captured the belt in 2010 defeating Brock Lesnar and repeated it in 2012 defeating Junior dos Santos.
Velasquez ended his 11-year MMA career with a 14-3 record.
He later transitioned to wrestling in Mexican promotion Lucha Libre AAA following his retirement from the UFC in 2019.
WWE signed him to a multi-million dollar deal not long ago but released him in 2020 amid pandemic-related budget cuts.
