Cain Velasquez and his family have received some much-needed good news. Former UFC heavyweight champion has been serving a five-year prison sentence since March 2025, following a ruling by the Santa Clara County Court after pleading no contest to attempted murder and other charges tied to the 2022 shooting incident. Officials had transferred Velasquez to a California correctional facility.

Even though Velasquez had spent 1,283 days in custody, including time from his initial arrest and house arrest, before his final conviction in March, the court ultimately rejected his plea for leniency. Judges then sentenced him to five years in prison, while granting parole eligibility beginning in March next year. Now, officials have released a fresh update on Cain Velasquez’s possible release.

Cain Velasquez’s parole status sparks optimism for a quicker return home

Mark your calendars: February 2025 could be a key month for Cain Velasquez, as it may indicate when he could be eligible for release. According to the California Incarcerated Records database, as reported by MMA Fighting, Velasquez is set to become eligible for parole starting February 2026. His participation in rehabilitative programs appears to be working in his favor. However, it’s important to note that the parole date displayed is subject to possible change.

“Incarcerated persons could also be found guilty of an institutional rules violation, which could result in a loss of credits that may move their parole eligible dates further into the future. Parole eligible dates may also change based on a variety of other reasons, including court orders, changes in law, and routine audits. Parole eligible dates displayed on this website are updated regularly,” the database’s statement read.

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The news initially relieved Velasquez’s family and supporters. When the court ruled against Cain Velasquez, the MMA community quickly rallied behind the former UFC heavyweight champion. In fact, high-profile figures, including Khabib Nurmagomedov, Dana White, and coach Javier Mendez, publicly criticized the sentence.

Over the following months, occasional photos surfaced showing Velasquez inside the prison, engaging with fellow inmates. This week, new images captured Velasquez in the prison yard during a football championship game, where his team won 38-14.

Even after spraining his ankle in the fourth quarter and sustaining a black eye, he continued playing until the end, still showcasing the same legendary cardio and stamina he once demonstrated in the Octagon.

Daniel Cormier highlights Cain Velasquez’s unmatched work ethic

In today’s UFC landscape, former bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili has earned a reputation as the promotion’s cardio king. Fans, including Tom Aspinall and Dricus Du Plessis, especially admire his extraordinary endurance and relentless gas tank.

Merab hasn’t relied on natural ability alone; in fact, he has built his stamina through strict discipline and consistent year-round training, unlike many fighters who focus only during fight camps. However, Daniel Cormier believes his former training partner, Cain Velasquez, could have outshone Merab if they had faced each other in their primes.

“Cain Velasquez is killing Merab,” Cormier said at the UFC 323 morning weigh-in show. While the others disagreed, ‘DC’ made a compelling argument and still praised Merab, saying he “works hard.” Yet he insisted he had “never seen anything like” Velasquez.

Both Daniel Cormier and Cain Velasquez were dominant forces in the UFC and shared a history of training together at the American Kickboxing Academy under coach Javier Mendez. Recently, during an event with Warrior Code International, Cormier reflected on his time with former training partners and fondly remembered those days.

“I miss the time I spent with my friends in the gym like Cain Velasquez, Luke Rockhold, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, Josh Thomson, and Jon Fitch.”

“I miss the camaraderie of being in the gym with my friends.”

With Cain Velasquez’s return from prison drawing near, the scene is starting to change. The former heavyweight champion is set to reunite with his training partners soon.