Cain Velasquez: Dana White Covered $1 Million Bail for Jail Release

When Cain Velasquez was released from a holding facility in Santa Clara, California, in November 2022 on $1 million bail, it unclear how the cost was covered.

As it turns out, UFC CEO Dana White was more than ready to lend a helping hand to his former heavyweight champion. During an appearance on the “Basement Talk” podcast, Velasquez revealed that White took on that financial burden. The UFC leader himself has never publicly confirmed that he paid for Velasquez’s bail.

“I don’t know if he gave out a statement or something beforehand when I was locked up and also he did pay my bail as well,” Velasquez said before sentencing (h/t MMAFighting.com). “So they’re helping.”

Velasquez spent approximately eight months in jail before being released on bail. He remained under GPS surveillance and was not allowed to leave his home without the court’s permission, which was granted on multiple occasions to attend professional wrestling and MMA events.

In March, Velasquez was sentenced to five years in prison during a hearing at the Santa Clara County Hall of Justice in San Jose, California. During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors asked Judge Arthur Bocanegra give Velasquez 30 years to life in prison, while the defense lobbied for no time in prison. Velasquez received credit for 1,283 days of time served and could be eligible for parole as soon as March 2026. The former UFC heavyweight king pleaded no contest to attempted murder, felony assault and additional gun charges stemming from a February 2022 incident in which the former fighter fired a gun at a truck containing multiple people. During a high-speed chase, Velasquez shot at the vehicle containing Harry Goularte, who was accused of molesting Velasquez’s son. One of the shots hit and injured Goularte’s stepfather, Paul Bender.

White was one of a number of prominent figures from the MMA world who wrote a letter on Velasquez’s behalf following the fighter’s arrest.

"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," White wrote in 2022. "He was a model example of how a professional athlete should carry himself, projecting a positive image to UFC's fanbase.”

Although the trial has ended, Velasquez still must pay restitution. According to his attorney, the victims are seeking an “exorbitant amount of money,” potentially in the neighborhood of $1 million. The restitution setting hearing is currently scheduled for June 3.