Former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has spoken publicly for the first time since being released from prison earlier this year.
The 43 year old fighter posted a video message on Instagram where he thanked fans, friends, and supporters who stood by him and his family during a difficult legal battle.
Velasquez was sentenced in February 2025 to five years in prison after a shooting incident involving Harry Goularte. Goularte had previously been accused of molesting Velasquez’s young son at a daycare center. That accusation remains part of an ongoing legal process, and Velasquez has also filed a civil lawsuit connected to the situation.
Time spent in custody and parole release
Velasquez served time at the Correctional Training Facility located in Soledad, California. He remained there for close to eleven months before being granted parole in February.
During sentencing, the court counted 1,283 days already served toward his total punishment. That number included time spent in custody before the final ruling in the case.
After returning home, Velasquez took a short period away from public attention as he focused on reconnecting with his family and adjusting to daily life again.
Message focused on family and gratitude
In the video message shared online, Velasquez explained that he waited a few weeks after his release before speaking publicly so he could settle back into normal routines.
“Now that it’s been a couple 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 in the home with the family, being there for my kids,” Velasquez said.
The former champion explained that the encouragement he received during the case helped him stay strong through the process.
“And I just wanted to thank everybody for their love and support. Your words of inspiration, of encouragement constantly just lifted me up, myself and my family. You have no idea what your words and your encouragement and your love has meant to me and my family.”
Taking a slow return to everyday life
Velasquez also said he is not rushing to jump back into a busy lifestyle. Instead, he is carefully adjusting to the pace of normal life again.
“So just thank you. I’ll keep doing the work to get back to everyone. And just for myself now, just slowly get back out there. I didn’t want to overwhelm myself with the pace of life that I was getting used to, to now all of a sudden, a new way of life, a new way of living, a new rhythm.”
He continued by explaining that he needed time to get comfortable with this new chapter.
“So for myself, I just had to kind of get used to it, and I’ve been doing that. So again, just thank you. Thank you. Thank you everyone, and it’s good to be out.”
Velasquez built his reputation as one of the top heavyweights in MMA during his career in the UFC, where he captured the heavyweight championship and became known for his wrestling skills and relentless pressure.
He stepped away from MMA competition in 2019. After retiring from fighting, Velasquez explored a new path in professional wrestling.
He appeared in events organized by WWE and later competed for Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide.
For now, Velasquez appears focused on family life and recovery from a difficult period, while slowly returning to normal routines after leaving prison.
