“The way that I handled things was not the way to do it. We cannot put the law in our own hands.” Cain Velasquez had realized his mistake even before the court handed out its ruling on 24 March 2025. The former 2-time heavyweight champion was sentenced to 5 years in prison for attempted murder and 9 other felonies that he committed in February 2022. The entire fighting community, including Khabib Nurmagomedov and Daniel Cormier, stood in support of ‘Cardio Cain’. They sent forth some encouraging and emotional words for the giant. And now, Ariel Helwani has come up with a positive update. 

Taking to The Ariel Helwani Show, the famed MMA reporter weighed in on Velasquez’s sentence. Reading a report from Uncrowned.com, Helwani reflected back on the time when there was utter chaos right after Judge Arthur Bocanegra revealed his verdict. It was clear that Velasquez’s sentence involved the time that he had already served, and the talk of the town was that he could get out of prison sooner than 5 years, after getting credited with 1283 days served. 

Helwani said, “When you consider the time served, it might end up being, according to his team, what I’m hearing, as soon as potentially January, with some good behavior involved, to where he could be released. So, initially, when we heard about the 5 years, ‘Oh my God! 5 years is a nightmare.’ And any day behind bars for a good man like Cain Velasquez is a nightmare. But I do believe that this was a good day for Cain Velasquez when you consider the fact that they were seeking 30 years to life. As you can see there, he’s being credited for 1283 days served.” 

The MMA journalist went on to take a look at some visuals that the local news outlets had been sharing. Helwani noted that ‘Cardio Cain’ looked quite at peace. Walking outside the court, Velasquez had his hands in his pockets and his daughter by his side.

The Judge also declared that Velasquez was not a danger to the community, and Helwani seconded that thought. He continued, “And we have seen a change in Cain’s demeanor over the last couple of years. A gentle giant. Soft-spoken. One of the nicest human beings that I’ve ever come across.” 

The fighting community is of the view that Velasquez is truly a good man. As ‘Cardio Cain’ gets ready to serve the remaining time of his sentence, fans and professionals decided to send a note to him. Let’s see what Daniel Cormier, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and others had to say.

What did Khabib Nurmagomedov and others say about Cain Velasquez’s imprisonment?

Following the hearing on 24 March 2025, ‘The Eagle’ took to Instagram and shared a picture of himself with Velasquez on his Story. In the caption, he wrote, “Stay Strong Lion.” Cormier followed Nurmagomedov and shared a picture with Velasquez on IG. The caption read, “Warrior, Cain, you are the man. That won’t ever change. You’ll approach this like you’ve done every step of your life. See you soon, champ.” Javier Mendez, and the current lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev, also wished the former champion strength. Chris Weidman believed that the news was nothing but awful. 

Michael Chiesa claimed that ‘Cardio Cain’ should never have served any time in prison, and asked the officials to focus on dangerous criminals. Meanwhile, Jorge Masvidal and Derek Brunson rallied behind the #FreeCain. And as that happened, one thing became certain. Velasquez was one of the few who were truly loved by the fighting world. 

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What are your thoughts on Velasquez’s sentence? Do you think he can get out of prison by January 2027? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.