Emotional Reunion for Former UFC Fighter Cain Velasquez

Cain Velasquez, a former UFC champion, has reunited with his family after being released from prison, where he spent less than a year following a five-year sentence. This sentence arose from his attempt to shoot a man accused of child sexual abuse.

The 43-year-old Velasquez walked out of a California prison on Sunday after serving 1,283 days, which included time in county jail and house arrest until his upcoming trial in 2024, his attorney, Mike Fonseca, confirmed.

A heartfelt video shared on Instagram captures the moment Velasquez is reunited with his children as they’re greeted by a mariachi band. It’s a touching scene, as his son and daughter rush to him and jump into his arms.

Velasquez had been incarcerated since February 2022, following a high-speed chase during which he fired shots at Harry Gularte—a daycare worker accused of molesting Velasquez’s 4-year-old son. During the chase, Gularte’s 63-year-old father was also injured.

Since November 2022, Velasquez has been under house arrest. He ultimately pled no contest to charges related to felony attempted murder and assault, with a sentencing date set for March 2025.

In a display of remorse, Velasquez reached an agreement with prosecutors to avoid a possible life sentence. Gularte still faces charges of lewd acts with a minor, but he claims he is innocent. Interestingly, Velasquez has also filed a civil lawsuit linked to the case.

During an interview, he reflected on his actions, acknowledging they were “extremely dangerous” to everyone involved. He expressed a desire to make amends, saying, “I understand what I did, and I will do everything I can to make things right.”

Notably, he also mentioned forgiving the Gularte family, saying he couldn’t harbor hatred towards them because he has a responsibility to his children and those around him.

Velasquez had a remarkable career in the UFC, competing from 2008 to 2019 and earning the heavyweight title twice. He first captured the championship by defeating Brock Lesnar in 2010 and regained it in a rematch with Junior dos Santos in 2012, finishing his career with a record of 14 wins and 3 losses.

After retiring, he ventured into professional wrestling, joining the Mexican promotion Lucha Libre AAA, and was signed by WWE, though he was released in 2020 due to pandemic-related budget cuts.