Cain Velasquez pleads no contest to shooting at man accused of abusing son

Heavyweight fighter Cain Velasquez leaves jail

After eight months behind bars, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez was freed on $1 million bail, walking out of the Santa Clara County Jail four minutes before midnight on Tuesday.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Former two-time UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez pleaded no contest Friday to felony attempted murder, assault, and weapons charges in a case involving a man who allegedly sexually abused Velasquez’s son.

He entered the plea in a San Jose courtroom in exchange for a lighter sentence, according to the East Bay Times.

A sentencing date for the 42-year-old Velasquez has not been set. He was scheduled to start his trial in September and could have faced life in prison if found guilty of the charges.

"This defendant decided to become judge, jury, and executioner. His actions endangered innocent bystanders, including young children and their parents who could have been injured or killed as he shot at his intended victim," District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. "We have excellent law enforcement in this county. Let them do their jobs."

Former MMA fighter Cain Velasquez denied bail a second time

Former mixed martial arts champion Cain Velasquez was denied bail a second time on Monday after prosecutors charged him with trying to kill a man suspected of molesting a 4-year-old relative.

In 2022, Velasquez was accused of shooting at a pickup truck in San Jose carrying a man alleged to have sexually abused his 4-year-old son.

Prosecutors alleged that Velasquez followed the truck that was transporting the man and the man's 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 the man's stepfather, who was driving, in the arm and torso.

Velasquez was released from jail in November 2022 on $1 million bail and had been monitored with a GPS device.

The man Velasquez targeted, 43-year-old Harry Goularte, faces ongoing felony child molestation charges.