SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) — A number of present and former skilled MMA fighters are coming to the protection of Cain Velasquez, who was sentenced to 5 years in jail Monday in Santa Clara County, California.
Velasquez, a former two-time UFC heavyweight champion, was sentenced for a capturing in February of 2022.
Velasquez beforehand pleaded no contest to first going after a person that he believed molested his son; after which capturing that man’s stepfather within the course of.
Quite a lot of skilled fighters are actually asking California Governor Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump for assist in getting Velasquez out of jail.
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“My response to listening to that information at present is that California is stuffed with B.S. brother,” skilled fighter Jorge Masvidal mentioned.
Together with Masvidal, retired MMA fighter Luke Rockhold, UFC fighter Oban Elliott, and MMA fighter Gilbert Melendez are defending Velasquez.
Velasquez pleaded no contest to an 11-mile, 10-minute, high-speed chase the place he went after Harry Goularte, the person accused of molesting Velasquez’s 4-year-old son on the time, whereas at daycare. Goularte’s stepfather was shot throughout all of that however did survive.
“Any father or member of the family in the correct place would do one thing,” skilled fighter Luke Rockhold mentioned.
“He isn’t a prison,” Elliott mentioned. “He took the legislation into his personal fingers and that is what he is being punished for on the finish of the day.”
However the mom of Goularte, the person chased by Velasquez, says her son is harmless. Patricia Bender says Goularte, who faces a molestation cost, hasn’t but been tried and isn’t in jail.
“The sentence is extraordinarily disappointing,” Bender mentioned. “It is primarily based on an alleged allegation that has no foundation. It’s unfounded. We’re trying ahead to Harry’s case to show that.”
RELATED: Former UFC champ Cain Velasquez arrested suspicion of tried homicide after SJ capturing, police say
Velasquez has already served greater than three years in jail, that means he’ll now return and serve lower than two.
“I feel it is sufficient already, I am bummed he has to do a yr and a half however I am grateful he isn’t doing 30 years to life,” Melendez mentioned.
“He is attempting to do all he can to show that he is a productive member of society and to waste cash placing him in jail at this level makes completely no sense,” mentioned Rockhold.
In courtroom, Velasquez learn a press release to the decide. He mentioned he fully agrees with regardless of the decide sees match. He referred to as his actions reckless and harmful and that he’s actually sorry.
A number of fighters would really like lawmakers to become involved on this case.
“Let’s hope any person over there in California, any person can write this man a pardon, possibly Newsom will write it,” Masvidal mentioned. “I do know it is a state factor so there’s not a lot that President Trump can do however I would nonetheless wish to ask President Trump and his superb cupboard and esteemed colleagues to look into this.”
Goularte’s trial on a toddler molestation cost will begin in June.
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