Former UFC champion Cain Velasquez sentenced to prison time for 2022 shooting

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Former UFC fighter Cain Velasquez was sentenced to a total of five years behind bars on attempted murder, assault and gun charges stemming from a 2022 shooting where he allegedly fired his weapon toward a truck carrying a man accused of molesting his then-4-year-old son.

Velasquez will receive time served credit for 1,283 days – or about three years – of the five-year sentence, which will bring his time in custody to two years or less.

Velasquez pleaded no contest to the charges last August.

2022 shooting in Santa Clara County

The backstory:

Prosecutors alleged the former UFC champion followed the truck that was transporting Harry Goularte and his parents, leading a high-speed chase through three Silicon Valley cities and ramming the vehicle with his own truck. 

They said Velasquez shot at the vehicle several times with a .40-caliber pistol, injuring Goularte's stepfather, who was driving, in the arm and torso.

Goularte, the man charged with molesting Velasquez’s 4-year-old son, is the adult son of the woman who ran the daycare Velasquez' son attended. He's scheduled to be sentenced in June.

Impact statements ahead of sentencing

What they're saying:

In a crowded courtroom with nearly 70 spectators on Monday, Velasquez, members of his family, and members of Goularte's family made impact statements ahead of the judge's sentencing.

"I'm haunted by his actions every day," said Patty Goularte, the mother of the man accused of abusing Velasquez' son.

Goularte's brother, CJ, told the court the shooting was pre-meditated. 

"He had every intention to kill them," CJ Goularte said. "This was not a moment of rage. This was a pre-meditated plan."

Cora Velasquez, the 15-year-old daughter of Cain Velasquez, shared details about her dad's character with the court.

"My dad has always been my biggest supporter. My dad is why I’m so strong as a person," she said. "He teaches me to be strong. We are very similar in how we love other people. Though he looks tough on the outside, he’s soft on the inside."

Cain Velasquez' wife told the court she worries about the toll the sentencing will take on his children.

"I worry about the emotional toll this will take on his children," Michelle Velasquez said. "I ask you consider a sentence that allows Cain to be active in our lives."

Before prosecutors gave their closing statement Monday, Cain Velasquez shared his regret for the 2022 shooting.

"I agree to accept whatever sentence," he said.

Cain Velasquez said he's ashamed, and sorry for his actions.

"Moving forward, I’ll try to set a great example for everyone," he said. "Out of all this, I wish safe feelings for my family and the community.

Sentence terms

Dig deeper:

A Santa Clara County judge delivered the sentence around 1:30 p.m. on Monday after hearing impact statements from the Velasquez and Goularte families.

As part of his sentence, Velasquez won't be allowed to ever own a firearm again.

Velasquez was also ordered to obey a 10-year protective order, which will prevent any contact with the Goularte family.

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