UFC CEO Dana White briefly addressed the recent release of former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez from prison during a media scrum following a Zuffa Boxing event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
When asked about Velasquez’s release during a press conference, White expressed his satisfaction with the outcome while acknowledging the difficult journey the MMA star and his family endured.
“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,” White stated.
White had previously shown his support for Velasquez by writing a letter on his behalf during the legal proceedings.
During the legal proceedings, the UFC CEO wrote directly to the judge of the Santa Clara County Superior Court, urging the court to consider Velasquez’s character and lifelong contributions when evaluating the case.
White emphasized that the former heavyweight champion was not only a respected athlete but also someone who represented the sport and the UFC with integrity throughout his career.
Velasquez, a two-time UFC heavyweight champion known for his dominant performances inside the Octagon, faced serious legal challenges that kept him incarcerated for an extended period.
Velasquez’s legal troubles stemmed from an incident that occurred on February 28, when he was accused of pursuing a vehicle carrying Harry Goularte and firing at it. The confrontation resulted in Goularte’s stepfather, Paul Bender, being wounded in the arm.
Goularte had previously been accused of abusing Velasquez’s four-year-old son at a home daycare facility operated by Goularte’s mother.
Support for Cain Velasquez has not beeb limited to White alone. Much of the MMA world rallied behind the former champion during his arrest. Several major figures reportedly submitted letters of support, including his longtime teammates at American Kickboxing Academy such as Daniel Cormier and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
