Cain Velasquez, the former UFC heavyweight champion, was involved in a 2022 shooting and car chase targeting a man accused of molesting his young son, which led to attempted murder charges, prison time, and (as of mid‑February 2026) his release on parole.

Cain Velasquez – What Happened? (Quick Scoop)

H1: From UFC Champion to Criminal Case

Cain Velasquez is a two‑time UFC heavyweight champion who later also did pro wrestling work with WWE.

In early 2022, his life changed dramatically when he was arrested after a violent confrontation connected to allegations of abuse against his child.

H2: The 2022 Shooting Incident

In February 2022, Velasquez chased a vehicle for roughly 11 miles in California, believing it carried Harry Goularte, the man accused of molesting his 4‑year‑old son at a daycare.

During the chase, he fired multiple shots into the car; Goularte’s stepfather (or father, depending on the report) was hit and injured, not Goularte himself.

Key points:

  • Target: Harry Goularte Jr., accused of sexually abusing Velasquez’s child.
  • Action: High‑speed chase and multiple gunshots fired into the vehicle.
  • Victim: A family member of Goularte in the car was struck by a bullet and injured.
  • Arrest: Velasquez was taken into custody and initially held in jail without quick release.

H2: Charges, Plea, and Sentencing

Initially, Velasquez pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and several firearms‑related charges.

Later, in 2024, he changed his plea to no contest to felony attempted murder and related charges, which meant a conviction without formally admitting guilt, in exchange for a lighter potential sentence.

H3: Court Outcome

  • Plea: No contest to attempted murder, assault with a firearm, shooting into an occupied vehicle, and related counts.
  • Sentence: In March 2025, he was sentenced to five years in prison.
  • Credit for time: He received credit for about three and a half years (1,283 days) already served in county jail and on house arrest, which significantly reduced his remaining time.
  • Judge’s view: Reports highlight the court acknowledging both the seriousness of taking the law into one’s own hands and the emotional context involving alleged abuse of a child.

Velasquez later said in an interview that the way he handled things was “not the way to do it” and that people cannot just put the law in their own hands, acknowledging the danger he created for innocent bystanders.

H2: Prison, Parole Date, and Release

After sentencing, Velasquez was sent to the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad, California.

California inmate records initially listed his parole eligibility for March 2026, later updated to February 2026, partly due to time credits and rehabilitative programs.

H3: Parole and Current Status (February 2026)

  • Facility: Correctional Training Facility (Soledad State Prison), California.
  • Sentence: Five‑year prison term with substantial time‑served credit.
  • Parole eligibility: Date adjusted forward from March 2026 to February 2026.
  • Release: As of mid‑February 2026, multiple sports outlets report that Cain Velasquez has been released from California state prison on parole after roughly 10–11 months in state custody following his formal sentencing.

He is expected to remain under supervision (parole conditions) and still faces a restitution hearing where the court will determine how much he must pay to the victims of the crime.

H2: How Fans and Forums See It

Online discussions and forums are divided between sympathy for a father reacting to alleged abuse and concern over the dangerous vigilante‑style response.

Many MMA fans emphasize his reputation as a humble, hardworking champion, while others stress that firing into a moving car put innocent people at risk and warranted serious legal consequences.

Common viewpoints you’ll see in forum discussion threads:

  1. “Protective father” angle
    • People argue any parent might “snap” in a similar situation when they believe their child was abused.
 * Some feel the justice system failed the family, pushing him toward a desperate act.
  1. “Rule of law” angle
    • Others point out that he had legal options and that shooting at an occupied vehicle is extremely dangerous.
 * They argue that supporting the motive does not mean justifying the method.
  1. “Career and comeback” speculation
    • Some MMA fans wonder if he could ever compete, coach, or work in pro wrestling again while on parole or after completing it.
 * Any return would likely depend on athletic commission rules, promoter decisions, and his ongoing legal obligations.

“You can empathize with why he was angry and still agree that what he did was way over the line and illegal.”

H2: Why This Is a Big Trending Topic

The Cain Velasquez case stays in the news and on forums because it sits at the intersection of:

  • Celebrity combat sports figure – a former UFC heavyweight champion with a big fanbase.
  • Extremely sensitive allegations – accusations of child sexual abuse involving his son.
  • Vigilante justice vs. legal system – a high‑profile example of someone taking justice into their own hands, with serious consequences.
  • Recent update – his February 2026 parole and release from state prison keep the story fresh and trending in MMA and general news.

H2: TL;DR – Cain Velasquez What Happened?

  • In 2022, Cain Velasquez chased and shot at a car carrying a man accused of molesting his son; the man’s relative was injured by gunfire.
  • He was charged with attempted murder and firearms offenses, and later pleaded no contest.
  • In March 2025, he was sentenced to five years in prison, with substantial credit for time already served.
  • His parole eligibility was moved up to February 2026, and he has now been released on parole from California state prison.
  • Fans and forums are split between empathy for him as a father and criticism of his dangerous, illegal actions.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.