Former UFC fighter Cain Velasquez had an emotional reunion with his family following his release from prison, less than a year into a five-year sentence for attempting to shoot a man accused of molesting his child.
The 43-year-old was released on parole Sunday from a California state prison after being credited with 1,283 days served, including time spent in county jail before sentencing and on house arrest leading up to his 2024 trial, his agent Mike Fonseca confirmed to ESPN.
An emotional video capturing Velasquez reuniting with 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 rushing toward him and jumping into his arms during the heartwarming moment.
Velasquez was locked up for getting into a high-speed chase and shooting at the vehicle of daycare worker Harry Goularte, who faces charges of sexually abusing his four-year-old son, in February 2022.
During the 11-mile chase, Goularte’s 63-year-old father, who was riding in the vehicle, was shot and injured.
After being on house arrest since November 2022, the former MMA fighter pleaded no contest to felony attempted murder, assault and weapons charges before being sentenced in March 2025.
Velasquez has publicly expressed remorse over the incident and reached a deal with prosecutors to avoid a potential sentence of 30 years to life in prison.
Goularte still faces a felony charge of lewd acts with a minor and has pleaded not guilty. Velasquez has also filed a related civil lawsuit, ESPN reported.
Velasquez acknowledged during an appearance on the Kyle Kingsbury podcast prior to beginning his sentence that his actions were “very dangerous” to those involved and “innocent people.”
“I understand what I did and I’m willing to do everything I have to pay that back,” Velasquez said.
Velasquez also said he has forgiven the Goularte family, who operated the daycare where the alleged molestation occurred.
“Even with that family and what they’ve done, I can’t have hate like that for them,” the former fighter said.
“Because there are things that I have to move on to and give love to my kids and give love to the people around.”
Velasquez competed in the UFC from 2008 to 2019, winning the heavyweight title twice and establishing himself as one of the division’s top fighters of his era.
He first captured the belt in 2010 by defeating Brock Lesnar and reclaimed it in 2012 against Junior dos Santos.
Velasquez concluded his 11-year MMA career with a 14-3 record.
He later transitioned to professional wrestling with Mexican promotion Lucha Libre AAA following his UFC retirement in 2019.
WWE signed him to a multimillion-dollar deal soon after but released him in 2020 amid pandemic-related budget cuts.