Cain Velasquez faces another two-month delay before his sentencing hearing wraps up.
In August 2024, Velasquez entered a no-contest plea in a California court to charges including felony attempted murder, assault, and multiple weapons-related offenses. The plea deal not only aimed to reduce his sentence but also marked a step toward resolving the prolonged legal battle.
Velasquez has found himself at the center of an attempted murder trial following a February 2022 incident. Allegedly, he opened fire on Harry Goularte, who was accused of molesting his four-year-old son at the time. The retired mixed martial artist accidentally struck Goularte’s stepfather, Paul Bender, after a high-speed chase ensued. He sustained injuries that were not considered severe.
According to a recent report from MMA Fighting journalist Damon Martin, a motions hearing for the former UFC heavyweight champion is scheduled for this Friday. However, his sentencing and probation hearing, which was already postponed in October 2024, has now been delayed further to March 24.
The 42-year-old Californian was apprehended by local authorities without resistance at the scene for allegedly firing several rounds from a .40-caliber handgun. In the following months, he faced a slew of charges that kept him behind bars for eight long months, until he was granted bail in November 2022 on a $1 million bond.
Following the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States, a figure with a close friendship to UFC CEO Dana White, many within the MMA community — including Velasquez’s former manager, Ali Abdelaziz — have called on the president on social media to extend a pardon to the former UFC champion.
However, it’s important to note that under U.S. law, Trump can only issue pardons for federal crimes. Since Velasquez’s charges are at the state level, only the Governor of California has the authority to address them.
Earlier this month, Velasquez inked a deal with the newly launched MMA promotion, Global Fight League (GFL), taking on the role of team manager for Team Dubai alongside his longtime head coach, Javier Mendez.
