Cain Velasquez told The Shawn Ryan Show he 'lost the will to live' before the 2022 chase and shooting; he served a five-year sentence, was released in February 2026 and is on parole.
From 2 reports by 2 outlets
What we know
- Velasquez pleaded no contest to attempted murder, felony assault and several firearm-related charges.
- Velasquez was sentenced to five years in prison in March 2025, with credit for time served, and was released in February 2026.
- Velasquez remains on parole.
- Harry Goularte was charged in February 2022 with one felony count of lewd acts with a child under 14; he pleaded not guilty, denies wrongdoing, and his case was still pre-trial.
- Goularte was not hit in the shooting; his stepfather, Paul Bender, suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.
- Velasquez said he chased the vehicle about 11 miles, rammed it with his truck and fired multiple rounds from a .40-caliber handgun.
Cain Velasquez has given his fullest account yet of the day that ended his career and sent him to prison, and it is stark. On a three-hour episode of The Shawn Ryan Show, the former UFC heavyweight champion said he was not thinking about consequences when he began chasing a truck in 2022.
Velasquez, now 44, said his then-four-year-old son told him about things happening at a daycare, and that he and his wife, Michelle, reported it to the authorities. Harry Goularte, a relative of the daycare's owner, was arrested in February 2022 and charged with one felony count of lewd acts with a child under 14. He pleaded not guilty and has denied wrongdoing. His case was still in the pre-trial phase when Velasquez was released. Goularte was released under court supervision two days after his arrest.
Velasquez said watching his son and wife process the allegations left him feeling helpless. Several days later, he said, he took his son to the zoo for a break, then went for a drive and spotted members of Goularte's family. He followed their vehicle as they went to collect Goularte, who was due to be fitted with an electronic monitor. "I lost it. I f—king lost the will to live. I didn't care about dying," he said.
He pursued the vehicle for about 11 miles, rammed it with his truck and fired multiple rounds from a .40-caliber handgun. Goularte was not hit. His stepfather, Paul Bender, suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. Velasquez said he held everyone in the vehicle responsible, though Goularte was the only occupant criminally charged over the alleged abuse. He also acknowledged that traffic meant uninvolved people could have been hurt.
Velasquez pleaded no contest to attempted murder, felony assault and several firearm-related charges. He was sentenced to five years in March 2025, with credit for time served, and was released in February 2026 after completing his sentence under California law. He remains on parole.
No fight, legal update or announcement has accompanied the interview. The next development to watch is Goularte's pre-trial case, which remains unresolved.
Velasquez, now 44, said his then-four-year-old son told him about things happening at a daycare, and that he and his wife, Michelle, reported it to the authorities. Harry Goularte, a relative of the daycare's owner, was arrested in February 2022 and charged with one felony count of lewd acts with a child under 14. He pleaded not guilty and has denied wrongdoing. His case was still in the pre-trial phase when Velasquez was released. Goularte was released under court supervision two days after his arrest.
Velasquez said watching his son and wife process the allegations left him feeling helpless. Several days later, he said, he took his son to the zoo for a break, then went for a drive and spotted members of Goularte's family. He followed their vehicle as they went to collect Goularte, who was due to be fitted with an electronic monitor. "I lost it. I f—king lost the will to live. I didn't care about dying," he said.
He pursued the vehicle for about 11 miles, rammed it with his truck and fired multiple rounds from a .40-caliber handgun. Goularte was not hit. His stepfather, Paul Bender, suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. Velasquez said he held everyone in the vehicle responsible, though Goularte was the only occupant criminally charged over the alleged abuse. He also acknowledged that traffic meant uninvolved people could have been hurt.
Velasquez pleaded no contest to attempted murder, felony assault and several firearm-related charges. He was sentenced to five years in March 2025, with credit for time served, and was released in February 2026 after completing his sentence under California law. He remains on parole.
No fight, legal update or announcement has accompanied the interview. The next development to watch is Goularte's pre-trial case, which remains unresolved.
- Summary
- Cain Velasquez told The Shawn Ryan Show he 'lost the will to live' before the 2022 chase and shooting; he served a five-year sentence, was released in February 2026 and is on parole.
- Key points (one per line)
- Velasquez said on The Shawn Ryan Show he 'lost it' and 'didn't care about dying' during the 11-mile chase.
He pleaded no contest to attempted murder and was sentenced to five years in March 2025.
He was released in February 2026 and remains on parole.
Harry Goularte, charged with lewd acts with a child under 14, has pleaded not guilty; his case is pre-trial.
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- MMA Mania | https://www.mmamania.com/latest-news/482496/video-cain-velasquez-recounts-moment-he-lost-it-before-11-mile-shooting-chase-i-didnt-care-about-dying
Knockout Daily | https://knockoutdaily.com/news/cain-velasquez-says-i-didnt-care-about-dying-recalling-11-mile-shooting-chase
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