Many in the MMA world, including UFC CEO Dana White, have reacted to Cain Velasquez’s reunion with his family after his release from prison on Sunday.
Reportedly, Velasquez was locked up in California State Prison for getting into a high-speed chase and shooting at the vehicle of daycare worker Harry Goularte, who is accused of molesting the former UFC champ’s then-four-year-old son, in February 2022.
During the shootout, Goularte’s 63-year-old stepfather, Paul Bender, was shot and injured, as per reports.
Cain Velasquez was arrested in February 2022 and, in November of the same year, was granted bail, after which he remained on house arrest. In 2024, he pleaded no contest to felony attempted murder and other related charges, and in March 2025, he was sentenced to five years in prison, as per reports.
Due to the months Velasquez spent in jail and on house arrest, he accumulated enough time served to be eligible for early parole, and on Sunday, Feb 15, 2026, he was released.
Dana White reacts to Cain Velasquez’s release from prison
Dana White during the Zuffa Boxing 3 post-fight presser, reacted to Cain Velasquez’s release from prison. White said:
Yeah, I’m happy for him. Obviously, to get home to his family, and you know what they went through, if that wasn’t bad enough, the guy’s been in jail this whole time, but um yeah.”
Check out Dana White’s comments below:
Cain Velasquez was arrested in February 2022, as mentioned before, and was denied bail until November 2022, when it was finally set at $1 million.
Dana White reportedly stepped up to help the former two-time UFC heavyweight champ, who later revealed that White paid his $1 million bail for his release from jail.
Daniel Cormier, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and others react to Cain Velasquez’s release
Cain Velasquez’s family was ready with a mariachi band to welcome him back. A video now making rounds on social media shows the 43-year-old’s son and daughter rushing towards him in excitement.
The MMA community also welcomed Cain Velasquez back.
Daniel Cormier posted on X:
My dog back home!!!!!!! Welcome home champ!!!!”
Khabib Nurmagomedov wrote:
Welcome back, real champ.”
Ronda Rousey reacted to the news:
😭😭😭 Welcome back, Cain! Wishing you and your family happiness and healing!!”
Gilbert Burns wrote:
🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾 “
Check out some of the reactions below:
