According to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, former UFC heavyweight champion and ex-WWE wrestler Cain Velasquez was released from prison on parole Sunday. Velasquez was previously sentenced to five years after pleading no contest to attempted murder and related charges stemming from a 2022 incident where he chased and fired at a vehicle carrying a man accused of inappropriately touching his young son, wounding the suspect’s stepfather. However, thanks to credit for time served in custody and house arrest, his term was reduced, leading to his early parole.
“Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez was released on parole from California state prison on Sunday, after spending the last 11 months in custody, his longtime agent Mike Fonseca confirmed to ESPN.” – Brett Okamoto
43-year-old Velasquez transitioned to professional wrestling in 2019 after retiring from MMA, beginning his career with Mexican promotion AAA, signing a multi-match deal. Velasquez made his in-ring debut at Triplemanía XXVII in August, teaming with Psycho Clown and Cody Rhodes to defeat Killer Kross, El Texano Jr., and Taurus in a six-man tag match, earning praise for his athleticism and quick adaptation to lucha libre style. Later that year, in October 2019, he made a dramatic debut on the first SmackDown on FOX, attacking Brock Lesnar, which led to a short match between the pair at Crown Jewel.
