Many of Cain Velasquez’s longtime teammates and friends continue to rally support for the former UFC heavyweight champion, who remains in jail on attempted murder charges and faces an arduous legal battle.
“To see his family not have him over a system that has failed us is not fair – it sucks,” Luke Rockhold told MMA Fighting. “It’s just not fair. Cain was not smart enough to do what he did. But the system allows a man such as that to be free [home].”
.
Rockhold, who once counted Velasquez as one of his closest teammates at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif., has done whatever he can to bring attention to the situation. Velasquez was arrested in February after he allegedly engaged in a high-speed chase and fired multiple rounds from a . 40-caliber handgun at a car carrying Harry Goularte, who is accused of molesting his 4-year-old son. Paul Bender was later taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after Goularte’s stepfather was shot during the incident.
“Knowingly letting the guy go free back to that situation once you’re molesting kids and releasing him back to the premises of a daycare where he lives, where he molested his children,” Rockhold continued. “Like, what the f***? No bail? They’re not allowing anyone to return to the same standard if they don’t have bail. It is so sad how absurd and twisted the world has become. need to be punished. [Pedophiles] must be punished in such a situation.
Goularte was released from custody after his arrest over the objections of prosecutors and has pleaded not guilty to the felony charges against him. Rockhold believes that’s where the problem really started.
Velasquez was denied bail during his initial arraignment in March, and bail was denied again by Judge Shelyna Brown in May as she condemned his actions as a “reckless disregard for human life.” At the initial hearing, Velasquez received a number of letters written on his behalf, including one from UFC President Dana White.
Many of his family and friends packed the courtroom for all the hearings.
Rockhold would like to see more attention paid to Velasquez’s ongoing legal battle, which is why he’s pushing for the UFC to induct the former heavyweight champion into the Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2022.
” I think Cain should be in the Hall of Fame long ago,” Rockhold said. “One of the first ever. He was one of the greatest, most hateful champions of all times. To bring attention to the situation, I tried to convince him to apply for a Hall of Fame bid. This is something I believe we all should do. I think Cain should bring more attention to the situation.”
It doesn’t seem that the UFC will call that number; the next ceremony for induction is set for July. But Rockhold still hopes a public push could result in Velasquez earning his spot among the best fighters to ever compete inside the octagon.
“Cain for Hall of Fame 2022, let’s go,” Rockhold said. “Bringing this to surface as much as we can and everyone can get behind him. Let’s show what Cain is.”
Velasquez will be back in court Friday, when he is scheduled to appear before a judge at his plea hearing. If convicted of all charges, he faces 20 years to life in prison.
This website uses cookies.