The trial in California against Cain Velasquez is nearing its conclusion. UFC president Dana White wrote a letter to a Santa Clara County Superior Court judge asking that Velasquez’s character be considered in the ruling.
Cain Velasquez is Facing More Than 20 Years in Prison
Velasquez was arrested and charged with attempted murder on February 28 in California. The former UFC heavyweight champ allegedly shot at a man who was recently charged with molesting a close relative of his. He apparently missed that man, however, and his bullet hit the defendant’s stepfather. The news was surprising and they are waiting for a ruling for the judge on his sentencing. In March, White wrote a letter to the judge in support of Velasquez.
The letter was obtained by MMA Junkie as part of a 246-page document in which Velasquez’s attorney, Mark Geragos, filed a petition in the 6th District Court of Appeal requesting his client be released from jail. On three separate occasions, Judge Shelyna Brown has denied bail.
March 4, 2022
To the honorable judge of the Santa Clara Superior Court,
I write this reference in full knowledge of Cain Velasquez’s current charges of attempted murder and assault. I was stunned to learn of these charges against him, as they are completely out of character for the man I was proud to say was a two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion.
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. He was a model example of how a professional athlete should carry himself, projecting a positive image to UFC’s fanbase. Mr. Velasquez was extremely professional and went above and beyond to make a connection with our fans and promote the sport of mixed martial arts—- not only as an entertainment product, but also as a character—building discipline.
As a Mexican American, Mr. Velasquez was proud of his heritage and never passed up an opportunity to visit Mexico on behalf of our company and demonstrate his gratitude
to the Mexican fans for their support.People who know him best describe him as a humble, soft-spoken man who was very much dedicated t0 his family, including his wife and his two children.
If given the opportunity, I’m sure Mr. Velasquez would like nothing more than to return to his family and continue to make a positive impact on his community.
I sincerely ask that you take this into consideration as you adjudicate next steps in this process concerning Mr. Velasquez.
lf you wish for me to confirm any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Dana White
UFC President
Dana White Is One of Many Supporting Cain Velasquez
Along with White, several other prominent figures in the MMA community have also written letters to the judge supporting Velasquez. That list includes Bellator president Scott Coker and current UFC champion Kamaru Usman. Former UFC champions Daniel Cormier, Henry Cejudo, Brandon Moreno, and Fabricio Werdum, as well as Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader, have done the same.
Whether or not these letters will help Velasquez anyway in his sentencing is uncertain. The next phases of the trial are scheduled to take place in August.
