On Saturday, Cain Velasquez, the former UFC heavyweight champion, will make a welcome return to his hometown as Gabriel Benitez’s coach and cornerman.
Velasquez was previously granted permission to corner Usman Nurmagomedov for his fight at a Bellator event in California this past October. Velasquez is presently free on bond following his accusation of attempted murder. The Nevada Athletic Commission will now be in charge of him to corner Benitez for UFC Vegas 84 against Jim Miller.
Tuesday, UFC officials informed MMA Fighting of the news, which they had previously learned via Claro Sports.
Velasquez was granted bail in November 2022 while awaiting trial on attempted murder allegations, following an eight-month incarceration. The courts subsequently gave the retired fighter permission to travel for professional work, which included appearing at professional wrestling matches and mentoring fighters like Nurmagomedov and Benitez.
The American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, where Velasquez trained for his UFC career, is home to several athletes whom he coaches.
On February 28, 2022, Velasquez was first taken into custody after he was accused of pursuing a car at a high rate of speed and shooting multiple times at a car that was transporting Harry Goularte. Goularte is charged separately for allegedly abusing the fighter’s son sexually at a daycare center that she owns. Paul Bender, the stepfather of Goularte, was shot during the altercation; the wounds were not life-threatening.
Following that, Velasquez was apprehended without incident and accused of several charges, including attempted murder with premeditation.
Over the past year, several hearings have been held to choose a trial date, but each time, the procedures have been postponed. Judge Daniel Nishigaya gave Velasquez’s lawyer another delay this past September, but he also recommended that a trial date be scheduled for sometime in January.
In the end, that day was postponed once more, and a new trial setup date was set for February 14.
Velasquez might spend the rest of his life behind bars if found guilty of all counts.