Former UFC champion Cain Velasquez released on parole after prison stint
Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez was released on parole from a California state prison on Sunday, after spending the last 11 months in custody, his longtime agent Mike Fonseca confirmed. Velasquez had been serving time following a March 2025 sentencing tied to a 2022 shooting incident.
Parole, sentence and time served
Velasquez was sentenced in March 2025 to five years in prison after entering a no-contest plea to charges related to a February 2022 shooting. At the time of sentencing, he was credited with 1, 283 days served, and he ultimately spent roughly 11 months in custody before being released on parole this week.
Following his arrest in late 2022, Velasquez was granted a $1 million bail package and placed on house arrest in November 2022. His recent parole ends his immediate incarceration but carries conditions and supervision consistent with California parole procedures.
The 2022 shooting and ongoing legal matters
The criminal case stems from an incident in February 2022 in which Velasquez chased and repeatedly fired at a vehicle carrying a man accused of molesting Velasquez's 4-year-old son. During the roughly 11-mile pursuit, the passenger in the targeted vehicle—identified as the accused man’s father—was shot and injured.
The man who was pursued continues to face a felony charge of lewd acts with a minor. Velasquez has also filed a civil suit related to the matter. The shooting and subsequent legal actions have remained active issues in both criminal and civil court calendars while Velasquez navigated bail, house arrest, and eventual sentencing.
Career legacy and public reaction
Cain Velasquez rose to prominence as one of the most feared heavyweight fighters in mixed martial arts, capturing the undisputed UFC heavyweight title with a knockout of Brock Lesnar in October 2010 and repeatedly appearing on championship cards while representing a noted San Jose fight camp. He retired from mixed martial arts competition in 2019.
Following his arrest, the fighter received public expressions of support from figures within the sport. Those endorsements were part of the broader conversation around the case, which has drawn attention because of Velasquez's high profile and the serious nature of the allegations that prompted his actions.
With parole now in effect, Velasquez faces the immediate task of meeting the conditions set by his supervising officers and the long-term challenge of addressing the legal and personal fallout from the episode. The civil case he filed remains an active component of the overall legal picture, and criminal proceedings related to the other parties involved continue to move through the courts.
As he transitions back into civilian life under parole supervision, the former champion's next moves—both in and out of the courtroom—will be closely watched by a wide cross-section of fans, former colleagues, and legal observers.
