Cain Velasquez Breaks Silence After Prison Release: "It's Good to Be Out"

Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez was released from prison on Sunday, February 15, following 10 months of incarceration. The 43-year-old athlete was granted parole.

Velasquez had previously been sentenced to five years but received credit for 1,283 days already served after he pleaded no contest to numerous charges, including attempted murder. These charges stemmed from a 2022 shooting incident. Velasquez engaged in a high-speed chase pursuing Harry Goularte, who operated a daycare attended by Velasquez’s then four-year-old son. Days prior to the shooting, Goularte had been arrested on allegations of molesting the child. During the pursuit, Velasquez fired a gun at the vehicle carrying Goularte and his family, inadvertently striking Goularte’s stepfather, Paul Bender, in the arm.

On Thursday, Velasquez released his first statement since regaining his freedom, extending thanks to all who supported him during his ordeal.

In a video accompanied by a written message on Instagram, he stated, "Blessed to be out, thank you to all for the love and support; you all have lifted me up so high. Grateful for all the understanding thus far and I look forward to a road of service." He further elaborated in the video, "Now that it's been a couple of weeks since my release, I've had some time to kind of get back into things, get back into a normal way of life, get used to just doing the normal things. Being home with the family, being there for my kids."

Velasquez continued, "I just wanted to thank everybody for their love and support. Your words of inspiration, of encouragement constantly lifted me up, myself and my family. So, I just wanted to take this time here to thank everybody for the constant support. You have no idea what your words and your encouragement and your love has meant to me and my family. Again, just thank you. Thank you. Thank everyone. And it's good to be out."