Cain Velasquez breaks silence on life after prison release

Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has broken his silence on life since his release from federal prison in February 2026. Velasquez was incarcerated after a 2022 incident in San Jose, California, in which he pursued Harry Goularte, a man he accused of molesting one of his young relatives, and fired at Goularte's vehicle. Though Goularte escaped injury, Velasquez was sentenced to five years in prison but was released after serving just 11 months.

Since his release, Velasquez has focused on rebuilding his life and has become a mentor at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose. In an interview with NBC, the former two-time UFC champion reflected on his transformation, emphasizing themes of forgiveness, teaching, and living from a place of love. "I've always been a teacher even though I didn't necessarily think I was," Velasquez said. "But now I'm taking more on that road of teaching others, but I'm still looking to learn."

Velasquez has also incorporated breathing exercises he refers to as "ascension breath" into his training regimen—a practice he uses to process past trauma and maintain focus during combat training. He expressed hope that sharing his story might help others learn from his mistakes. Despite the serious nature of his legal troubles, Velasquez's work at AKA demonstrates his commitment to moving forward and contributing positively to the combat sports community.