Cain Velasquez could be a free man as early as Feb. 2026.
The former UFC heavyweight champion scored a new parole eligibility date after drawing a five-year sentence at Soledad State Prison in California, according to MMA Fighting. Velasquez, 43, found himself behind bars following a conviction for attempted murder. Not too shabby when you consider that prosecutors were pushing for 30 years to life
.That said, this means Velasquez will merely be eligible for parole and his early release is not guaranteed.
The one-time WWE wrestler must appear before the Board of Parole Hearings (BPH) where a panel will consider the severity of his offense and his conduct while incarcerated, along with a risk assessment related to a potential early release.
“I am so blessed to have been able to have a career doing something I absolutely love,” Velasquez said after retiring from UFC in 2019. “I knew from the time I was a junior in college I wanted to be a fighter and after graduating from college, I set off on my journey of becoming a fighter with the goal of being UFC heavyweight champion. There are few people in this world that can say that they have achieved what I have, and I am forever grateful for the opportunities and position I held being part of the UFC.”
Regardless of his future release, Velasquez is still facing “exorbitant” damages from his 2022 shooting.
