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Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has broken his silence with a heartfelt Instagram video message, expressing his gratitude to fans and the MMA community for their support during his time behind bars.
Velasquez, 43, was released from California State Prison on February 15, 2026, after serving approximately 11 months in custody. He had been sentenced to five years in prison in March 2025 following a no-contest plea to charges stemming from a 2022 shooting incident in which he chased and fired at a vehicle carrying Harry Goularte — a man accused of repeatedly molesting his then-4-year-old son. Velasquez received credit for 1,283 days of pre-sentence time served while awaiting sentencing.
Cain's Message: "Just thank you"
Now a few weeks removed from his release, the former two-time heavyweight champion addressed his supporters directly in a video posted to Instagram:
I just wanna thank everybody for their love and support. Your words of encouragement constantly lift me up. I just wanna take this time here to thank everybody for the constant support. You have no idea what your words, encouragement, and love have meant to me and my family. Just thank you.
Velasquez also noted that he has been taking the transition back to normal life slowly, saying he didn't want to overwhelm himself adjusting to a new rhythm after his time away. He closed the video with a simple but telling sentiment: "It's good to be out."
The MMA world rallied widely behind Velasquez throughout his legal ordeal. UFC CEO Dana White wrote a letter to the court on his behalf, describing him as a "model example of how a professional athlete should carry himself".
Velasquez still has a June 3 court appearance scheduled to determine the amount of restitution he owes, while Goularte's criminal case remains ongoing.