UFC president Dana White, MMA stars speak out in defense of Cain Velasquez
UFC president Dana White and several other MMA stars are speaking out officially to support Cain Velasquez, who has been charged with attempted murder in California.
White and 33 others in the MMA world wrote letters to the Santa Clara County Superior Court in support of Velasquez last week, according to ESPN. Velasquez was denied bail in his case earlier this month after he was arrested and charged for allegedly trying to kill a man, among other things, who was charged himself for allegedly molesting Velasquez’s young relative.
"I have known Mr. Velasquez for more than 15 years, and during his time as an active athlete with UFC, he represented our company with dignity and always treated others with respect," White wrote in his letter, via ESPN. "He was a model example of how a professional athlete should carry himself, projecting a positive image to UFC's fanbase."
White was joined by Kamaru Usman, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Daniel Cormier, Henry Cejudo, Brandon Moreno, Fabricio Werdum, Ryan Bader, Yair Rodriguez, Kelvin Gastelum, Islam Makhachev and others. Bellator president Scott Coker also joined the group, per ESPN, along with the WWE’s Rey Mysterio.
"Cain has helped me on more occasions than I can count," Cormier wrote in his letter, via ESPN. "Like me, he is a father and husband so he knows the demand of trying to do it all. Throughout the years, he has traveled with me, supported me, and even helped me prepare for a coaching job at the high school while I retired from my fighter career. Cain has taken it upon himself to help every chance he gets. During the pandemic when many gyms and restaurants were closed, Cain opened his home and provided a place for wrestlers to train and eat. He even housed them."
Velasquez denied bail in attempted murder case
Velasquez was arrested last month after he allegedly tried to shoot and kill a man who has been accused of molesting his young relative.
The former UFC champion allegedly followed Harry Goularte’s parents on their way to pick him up in the Bay Area just days after Goularte was charged in a separate molestation case.
Goularte, 43, was charged with a single count of lewd and lascivious act with a child under the age of 14 late last month. He allegedly took Velasquez’s relative, who is younger than 10, into the bathroom of the daycare center that his mother runs at her home and touched his genitals “100 times.” This reportedly happened with other children, too. Goularte was released after his arrest, and has denied any wrongdoing.
After Goularte’s parents picked him up, Velasquez allegedly followed them for some time before he shot once at their car. He then reportedly followed them further, rammed his vehicle into theirs and shot several more times. Goularte’s stepfather was shot in the arm and torso. Velasques then reportedly fled the scene after a nearly 11-mile chase.
Velasquez was denied bail after a judge called his alleged actions “reckless by any standard.” He is now due in court next on April 12.
