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.
